1 Samuel 20:6-16

6 si requisierit me pater tuus respondebis ei rogavit me David ut iret celeriter in Bethleem civitatem suam quia victimae sollemnes ibi sunt universis contribulibus eius

7 si dixerit bene pax erit servo tuo si autem fuerit iratus scito quia conpleta est malitia eius

8 fac ergo misericordiam in servum tuum quia foedus Domini me famulum tuum tecum inire fecisti si autem est in me aliqua iniquitas tu me interfice et ad patrem tuum ne introducas me

9 et ait Ionathan absit hoc a te neque enim fieri potest ut si certo cognovero conpletam patris mei esse malitiam contra te non adnuntiem tibi

10 responditque David ad Ionathan quis nuntiabit mihi si quid forte responderit tibi pater tuus dure

11 et ait Ionathan ad David veni egrediamur in agrum cumque exissent ambo in agrum

12 ait Ionathan ad David Domine Deus Israhel si investigavero sententiam patris mei crastino vel perendie et aliquid boni fuerit super David et non statim misero ad te et notum tibi fecero

13 haec faciat Dominus Ionathan et haec augeat si autem perseveraverit patris mei malitia adversum te revelabo aurem tuam et dimittam te ut vadas in pace et sit Dominus tecum sicut fuit cum patre meo

14 et si vixero facies mihi misericordiam Domini si vero mortuus fuero

15 non auferas misericordiam tuam a domo mea usque in sempiternum quando eradicaverit Dominus inimicos David unumquemque de terra

16 pepigit ergo foedus Ionathan cum domo David et requisivit Dominus de manu inimicorum David

1 Samuel 20:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 20

David fleeing from Naioth came to Jonathan, and acquainted him with his circumstances, and entreated his favour, 1Sa 20:1-8; which Jonathan promised, and renewed the covenant with him, 1Sa 20:9-17; a scheme was formed between them, by which David might know whether Saul was reconciled to him, and he might come to court, 1Sa 20:18-23; which being tried, Jonathan found it was not safe for him to appear, 1Sa 20:24-34; of which he gave notice by the signals agreed on, 1Sa 20:35-40; and they took their leave of one another with strong expressions of affection and attachment to each other, 1Sa 20:41,42.