24
So David hid in the countryside. When the New Moon Festival came, King Saul sat down to eat the festival meal.
25
He sat in his usual seat by the wall, while Jonathan stood. Abner sat beside Saul, but David's place was empty.
26
Saul didn't say anything that day, thinking, "Something has happened to him so that he's unclean. He must be unclean."
27
But on the second day of the month, David's place was still empty. Saul asked his son Jonathan, "Why hasn't Jesse's son come to the meal either yesterday or today?"
28
Jonathan answered Saul, "David repeatedly begged me [to let him go] to Bethlehem.
29
David said to me 'Please let me go. Our relatives will offer a sacrifice in the city, and my brother ordered me to be there. If you will permit it, please let me go to see my brothers.' This is why he hasn't come to your banquet."
30
Then Saul got angry with Jonathan. "Son of a crooked and rebellious woman!" he called Jonathan. "I know you've sided with Jesse's son. You have no shame. [You act] as if you are your mother's son but not mine.
31
As long as Jesse's son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Now, send some men to bring him to me. He's a dead man!"
32
Jonathan asked his father, "Why should he be killed? What has he done?"
33
Saul raised his spear to strike him. Then Jonathan knew his father was determined to kill David.
34
Jonathan got up from the table very angry and ate nothing that second day of the month. He was worried sick about David because Jonathan had been humiliated by his own father.