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Hebrew Study Bible

1David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, "What have I done? What is my offense? How have I sinned before your father? For he is seeking my life!"

1וַיִּבְרַ֣ח דָּוִ֔ד [מנוות] (מִנָּי֖וֹת) בָּרָמָ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֞א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן מֶ֤ה עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ מֶֽה־ עֲוֺנִ֤י וּמֶֽה־ חַטָּאתִי֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ כִּ֥י מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־ נַפְשִֽׁי׃

2Jonathan said to him, "By no means are you going to die! My father does nothing large or small without making me aware of it. Why would my father hide this matter from me? It just won't happen!"

2וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֣וֹ חָלִילָה֮ לֹ֣א תָמוּת֒ הִנֵּ֡ה [לו־] [עשה] (לֹֽא־) (יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה) אָבִ֜י דָּבָ֣ר גָּד֗וֹל א֚וֹ דָּבָ֣ר קָטֹ֔ן וְלֹ֥א יִגְלֶ֖ה אֶת־ אָזְנִ֑י וּמַדּוּעַ֩ יַסְתִּ֨יר אָבִ֥י מִמֶּ֛נִּי אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה אֵ֥ין זֹֽאת׃

3Taking an oath, David again said, "Your father is very much aware of the fact that I have found favor with you, and he has thought, 'Don't let Jonathan know about this, or he will be upset.' But as surely as the LORD lives and you live, there is about one step between me and death!"

3וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע ע֜וֹד דָּוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יָדֹ֨עַ יָדַ֜ע אָבִ֗יךָ כִּֽי־ מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ וַיֹּ֛אמֶר אַל־ יֵֽדַע־ זֹ֥את יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן פֶּן־ יֵֽעָצֵ֑ב וְאוּלָ֗ם חַי־ יְהוָה֙ וְחֵ֣י נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ כִּ֣י כְפֶ֔שַׂע בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין הַמָּֽוֶת׃

4Jonathan replied to David, "Tell me what I can do for you."

4וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן אֶל־ דָּוִ֑ד מַה־ תֹּאמַ֥ר נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ לָּֽךְ׃ פ

5David said to Jonathan, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and I am certainly expected to join the king for a meal. You must send me away so I can hide in the field until the third evening from now.

5וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־ יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן הִֽנֵּה־ חֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ מָחָ֔ר וְאָנֹכִ֛י יָשֹׁב־ אֵשֵׁ֥ב עִם־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֶאֱכ֑וֹל וְשִׁלַּחְתַּ֙נִי֙ וְנִסְתַּרְתִּ֣י בַשָּׂדֶ֔ה עַ֖ד הָעֶ֥רֶב הַשְּׁלִשִֽׁית׃

6If your father happens to miss me, you should say, 'David urgently requested me to let him go to his city Bethlehem, for there is an annual sacrifice there for his entire family.'

6אִם־ פָּקֹ֥ד יִפְקְדֵ֖נִי אָבִ֑יךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ נִשְׁאֹל֩ נִשְׁאַ֨ל מִמֶּ֤נִּי דָוִד֙ לָרוּץ֙ בֵּֽית־ לֶ֣חֶם עִיר֔וֹ כִּ֣י זֶ֧בַח הַיָּמִ֛ים שָׁ֖ם לְכָל־ הַמִּשְׁפָּחָֽה׃

7If he should then say, 'That's fine,' then your servant is safe. But if he becomes very angry, be assured that he has decided to harm me.

7אִם־ כֹּ֥ה יֹאמַ֛ר ט֖וֹב שָׁל֣וֹם לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וְאִם־ חָרֹ֤ה יֶֽחֱרֶה֙ ל֔וֹ דַּ֕ע כִּֽי־ כָלְתָ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃

8You must be loyal to your servant, for you have made a covenant with your servant in the LORD's name. If I am guilty, you yourself kill me! Why bother taking me to your father?"

8וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ חֶ֙סֶד֙ עַל־ עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ כִּ֚י בִּבְרִ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה הֵבֵ֥אתָ אֶֽת־ עַבְדְּךָ֖ עִמָּ֑ךְ וְאִם־ יֶשׁ־ בִּ֤י עָוֺן֙ הֲמִיתֵ֣נִי אַ֔תָּה וְעַד־ אָבִ֖יךָ לָמָּה־ זֶּ֥ה תְבִיאֵֽנִי׃ פ

9Jonathan said, "Far be it from you to suggest this! If I were at all aware that my father had decided to harm you, wouldn't I tell you about it?"

9וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן חָלִ֣ילָה לָּ֑ךְ כִּ֣י ׀ אִם־ יָדֹ֣עַ אֵדַ֗ע כִּֽי־ כָלְתָ֨ה הָרָעָ֜ה מֵעִ֤ם אָבִי֙ לָב֣וֹא עָלֶ֔יךָ וְלֹ֥א אֹתָ֖הּ אַגִּ֥יד לָֽךְ׃ ס

10David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

10וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן מִ֖י יַגִּ֣יד לִ֑י א֛וֹ מַה־ יַּעַנְךָ֥ אָבִ֖יךָ קָשָֽׁה׃ ס

11Jonathan said to David, "Come on. Let's go out to the field." When the two of them had gone out into the field,

11וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אֶל־ דָּוִ֔ד לְכָ֖ה וְנֵצֵ֣א הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיֵּצְא֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ ס

12Jonathan said to David, "The LORD God of Israel is my witness. I will feel out my father about this time the day after tomorrow. If he is favorably inclined toward David, will I not then send word to you and let you know?

12וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־ דָּוִ֗ד יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־ אֶחְקֹ֣ר אֶת־ אָבִ֗י כָּעֵ֤ת ׀ מָחָר֙ הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֔ית וְהִנֵּה־ ט֖וֹב אֶל־ דָּוִ֑ד וְלֹֽא־ אָז֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְגָלִ֖יתִי אֶת־ אָזְנֶֽךָ׃

13But if my father intends to do you harm, may the LORD do all this and more to Jonathan, if I don't let you know and send word to you so you can go safely on your way. May the LORD be with you, as he was with my father.

13כֹּֽה־ יַעֲשֶׂה֩ יְהוָ֨ה לִֽיהוֹנָתָ֜ן וְכֹ֣ה יֹסִ֗יף כִּֽי־ יֵיטִ֨ב אֶל־ אָבִ֤י אֶת־ הָֽרָעָה֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ וְגָלִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־ אָזְנֶ֔ךָ וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֖יךָ וְהָלַכְתָּ֣ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וִיהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־ אָבִֽי׃

14While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the LORD, or else I will die!

14וְלֹ֖א אִם־ עוֹדֶ֣נִּי חָ֑י וְלֹֽא־ תַעֲשֶׂ֧ה עִמָּדִ֛י חֶ֥סֶד יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א אָמֽוּת׃

15Don't ever cut off your loyalty to my family, not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth

15וְלֹֽא־ תַכְרִ֧ת אֶֽת־ חַסְדְּךָ֛ מֵעִ֥ם בֵּיתִ֖י עַד־ עוֹלָ֑ם וְלֹ֗א בְּהַכְרִ֤ת יְהוָה֙ אֶת־ אֹיְבֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אִ֕ישׁ מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃

16and called David's enemies to account." So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David.

16וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן עִם־ בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וּבִקֵּ֣שׁ יְהוָ֔ה מִיַּ֖ד אֹיְבֵ֥י דָוִֽד׃

17Jonathan once again took an oath with David, because he loved him. In fact Jonathan loved him as much as he did his own life.

17וַיּ֤וֹסֶף יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ לְהַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ אֶת־ דָּוִ֔ד בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹת֑וֹ כִּֽי־ אַהֲבַ֥ת נַפְשׁ֖וֹ אֲהֵבֽוֹ׃ ס

18Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, for your seat will be empty.

18וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ ל֥וֹ יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן מָחָ֣ר חֹ֑דֶשׁ וְנִפְקַ֕דְתָּ כִּ֥י יִפָּקֵ֖ד מוֹשָׁבֶֽךָ׃

19On the third day you should go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself the day this all started. Stay near the stone Ezel.

19וְשִׁלַּשְׁתָּ֙ תֵּרֵ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וּבָאתָ֙ אֶל־ הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר־ נִסְתַּ֥רְתָּ שָּׁ֖ם בְּי֣וֹם הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה וְיָ֣שַׁבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖צֶל הָאֶ֥בֶן הָאָֽזֶל׃

20I will shoot three arrows near it, as though I were shooting at a target.

20וַאֲנִ֕י שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת הַחִצִּ֖ים צִדָּ֣ה אוֹרֶ֑ה לְשַֽׁלַּֽח־ לִ֖י לְמַטָּרָֽה׃

21When I send a boy after them, I will say, "Go and find the arrows." If I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them,' then come back. For as surely as the LORD lives, you will be safe and there will no problem.

21וְהִנֵּה֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֶת־ הַנַּ֔עַר לֵ֖ךְ מְצָ֣א אֶת־ הַחִצִּ֑ים אִם־ אָמֹר֩ אֹמַ֨ר לַנַּ֜עַר הִנֵּ֥ה הַחִצִּ֣ים ׀ מִמְּךָ֣ וָהֵ֗נָּה קָחֶ֧נּוּ ׀ וָבֹ֛אָה כִּֽי־ שָׁל֥וֹם לְךָ֛ וְאֵ֥ין דָּבָ֖ר חַי־ יְהוָֽה׃

22But if I say to the boy, "Look, the arrows are on the other side of you,' get away. For in that case the LORD has sent you away.

22וְאִם־ כֹּ֤ה אֹמַר֙ לָעֶ֔לֶם הִנֵּ֥ה הַחִצִּ֖ים מִמְּךָ֣ וָהָ֑לְאָה לֵ֕ךְ כִּ֥י שִֽׁלַּחֲךָ֖ יְהוָֽה׃

23With regard to the matter that you and I discussed, the LORD is the witness between us forever!"

23וְהַ֨דָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְנוּ אֲנִ֣י וָאָ֑תָּה הִנֵּ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינְךָ֖ עַד־ עוֹלָֽם׃ ס

24So David hid in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat down to eat his meal.

24וַיִּסָּתֵ֥ר דָּוִ֖ד בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיְהִ֣י הַחֹ֔דֶשׁ וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ [על־] (אֶל־) הַלֶּ֖חֶם לֶאֱכֽוֹל׃

25The king sat down in his usual place by the wall, with Jonathan opposite him and Abner at his side. But David's place was vacant.

25וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ עַל־ מ֨וֹשָׁב֜וֹ כְּפַ֣עַם ׀ בְּפַ֗עַם אֶל־ מוֹשַׁב֙ הַקִּ֔יר וַיָּ֙קָם֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אַבְנֵ֖ר מִצַּ֣ד שָׁא֑וּל וַיִּפָּקֵ֖ד מְק֥וֹם דָּוִֽד׃

26However, Saul said nothing about it that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to make him ceremonially unclean. Yes, he must be unclean."

26וְלֹֽא־ דִבֶּ֥ר שָׁא֛וּל מְא֖וּמָה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֤י אָמַר֙ מִקְרֶ֣ה ה֔וּא בִּלְתִּ֥י טָה֛וֹר ה֖וּא כִּֽי־ לֹ֥א טָהֽוֹר׃ ס

27But the next morning, the second day of the new moon, David's place was still vacant. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why has Jesse's son not come to the meal yesterday or today?"

27וַיְהִ֗י מִֽמָּחֳרַ֤ת הַחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י וַיִּפָּקֵ֖ד מְק֣וֹם דָּוִ֑ד ס וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־ יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנ֔וֹ מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־ בָ֧א בֶן־ יִשַׁ֛י גַּם־ תְּמ֥וֹל גַּם־ הַיּ֖וֹם אֶל־ הַלָּֽחֶם׃

28Jonathan replied to Saul, "David urgently requested that he be allowed to go to Bethlehem.

28וַיַּ֥עַן יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן אֶת־ שָׁא֑וּל נִשְׁאֹ֨ל נִשְׁאַ֥ל דָּוִ֛ד מֵעִמָּדִ֖י עַד־ בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃

29He said, 'Permit me to go, for we are having a family sacrifice in the city, and my brother urged me to be there. So now, if I have found favor with you, let me go to see my brothers.' For that reason he has not come to the king's table."

29וַיֹּ֡אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֣נִי נָ֡א כִּ֣י זֶבַח֩ מִשְׁפָּחָ֨ה לָ֜נוּ בָּעִ֗יר וְה֤וּא צִוָּֽה־ לִי֙ אָחִ֔י וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם־ מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ אִמָּ֥לְטָה נָּ֖א וְאֶרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־ אֶחָ֑י עַל־ כֵּ֣ן לֹא־ בָ֔א אֶל־ שֻׁלְחַ֖ן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס

30Saul became angry with Jonathan and said to him, "You stupid traitor! Don't I realize that to your own disgrace and to the disgrace of your mother's nakedness you have chosen this son of Jesse?

30וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֤ף שָׁאוּל֙ בִּיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ בֶּֽן־ נַעֲוַ֖ת הַמַּרְדּ֑וּת הֲל֣וֹא יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּֽי־ בֹחֵ֤ר אַתָּה֙ לְבֶן־ יִשַׁ֔י לְבָ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ וּלְבֹ֖שֶׁת עֶרְוַ֥ת אִמֶּֽךָ׃

31For as long as this son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established. Now, send some men and bring him to me. For he is as good as dead!"

31כִּ֣י כָל־ הַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בֶּן־ יִשַׁי֙ חַ֣י עַל־ הָאֲדָמָ֔ה לֹ֥א תִכּ֖וֹן אַתָּ֣ה וּמַלְכוּתֶ֑ךָ וְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁלַ֨ח וְקַ֤ח אֹתוֹ֙ אֵלַ֔י כִּ֥י בֶן־ מָ֖וֶת הֽוּא׃ ס

32Jonathan responded to his father Saul, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"

32וַיַּ֙עַן֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן אֶת־ שָׁא֖וּל אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו לָ֥מָּה יוּמַ֖ת מֶ֥ה עָשָֽׂה׃

33Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan in order to strike him down. So Jonathan was convinced that his father had decided to kill David.

33וַיָּ֨טֶל שָׁא֧וּל אֶֽת־ הַחֲנִ֛ית עָלָ֖יו לְהַכֹּת֑וֹ וַיֵּ֙דַע֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן כִּֽי־ כָ֥לָה הִ֛יא מֵעִ֥ם אָבִ֖יו לְהָמִ֥ית אֶת־ דָּוִֽד׃ ס

34Jonathan got up from the table enraged. He did not eat any food on that second day of the new moon, for he was upset that his father had humiliated David.

34וַיָּ֧קָם יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן מֵעִ֥ם הַשֻּׁלְחָ֖ן בָּחֳרִי־ אָ֑ף וְלֹא־ אָכַ֞ל בְּיוֹם־ הַחֹ֤דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי֙ לֶ֔חֶם כִּ֤י נֶעְצַב֙ אֶל־ דָּוִ֔ד כִּ֥י הִכְלִמ֖וֹ אָבִֽיו׃ ס

35The next morning Jonathan, along with a young servant, went out to the field to meet David.

35וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֵּצֵ֧א יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לְמוֹעֵ֣ד דָּוִ֑ד וְנַ֥עַר קָטֹ֖ן עִמּֽוֹ׃

36He said to his servant, "Run, find the arrows that I am about to shoot." As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him.

36וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְנַעֲר֔וֹ רֻ֗ץ מְצָ֥א נָא֙ אֶת־ הַ֣חִצִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מוֹרֶ֑ה הַנַּ֣עַר רָ֔ץ וְהֽוּא־ יָרָ֥ה הַחֵ֖צִי לְהַעֲבִרֽוֹ׃

37When the servant came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called out to the servant, "Isn't the arrow further beyond you?"

37וַיָּבֹ֤א הַנַּ֙עַר֙ עַד־ מְק֣וֹם הַחֵ֔צִי אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָרָ֖ה יְהוֹנָתָ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֨א יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אַחֲרֵ֤י הַנַּ֙עַר֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר הֲל֥וֹא הַחֵ֖צִי מִמְּךָ֥ וָהָֽלְאָה׃

38Jonathan called out to the servant, "Hurry! Go faster! Don't delay!" Jonathan's servant retrieved the arrow and came back to his master.

38וַיִּקְרָ֤א יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַנַּ֔עַר מְהֵרָ֥ה ח֖וּשָׁה אַֽל־ תַּעֲמֹ֑ד וַיְלַקֵּ֞ט נַ֤עַר יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אֶת־ [החצי] (הַ֣חִצִּ֔ים) וַיָּבֹ֖א אֶל־ אֲדֹנָֽיו׃

39(Now the servant did not understand any of this. Only Jonathan and David knew what was going on.)

39וְהַנַּ֖עַר לֹֽא־ יָדַ֣ע מְא֑וּמָה אַ֤ךְ יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ וְדָוִ֔ד יָדְע֖וּ אֶת־ הַדָּבָֽר׃

40Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the servant who was with him. He said to him, "Go, take these things back to the city."

40וַיִּתֵּ֤ן יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אֶת־ כֵּלָ֔יו אֶל־ הַנַּ֖עַר אֲשֶׁר־ ל֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ לֵ֖ךְ הָבֵ֥יא הָעִֽיר׃

41When the servant had left, David got up from beside the mound, knelt with his face to the ground, and bowed three times. Then they kissed each other and they both wept, especially David.

41הַנַּעַר֮ בָּא֒ וְדָוִ֗ד קָ֚ם מֵאֵ֣צֶל הַנֶּ֔גֶב וַיִּפֹּ֨ל לְאַפָּ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ פְּעָמִ֑ים וַֽיִּשְּׁק֣וּ ׀ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־ רֵעֵ֗הוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־ רֵעֵ֔הוּ עַד־ דָּוִ֖ד הִגְדִּֽיל׃

42Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn together in the name of the LORD saying, 'The LORD will be between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.'" Then David got up and left, while Jonathan went back to the city.

42וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן לְדָוִ֖ד לֵ֣ךְ לְשָׁל֑וֹם אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּ שְׁנֵ֜ינוּ אֲנַ֗חְנוּ בְּשֵׁ֤ם יְהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהוָ֞ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה ׀ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעִ֛י וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־ עוֹלָֽם׃ פ וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן בָּ֥א הָעִֽיר׃

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