1 Samuel 20:1-22 ▼

1 AND David fled from Jonath, which is in Ramtha, and came and said to Jonathan, What have I done? And what is my offence? And what is my crime before your father that he seeks my life?

2 And Jonathan said to him, God forbid; you shall not die; behold, my father does nothing either great or small which he does not reveal to me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so.

3 And David swore moreover, and said, It is because your father knows that I have found favor in your eyes; therefore he has said. Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved; but truly as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.

4 Then Jonathan said to David, Whatever you desire, I will do for you.

5 And David said to Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit in the presence of your father to eat; but let me go that I may hide myself in the field until the third day at evening.

6 If your father should miss me, then say to him. David earnestly asked leave of me that he might go to Beth-lehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

7 If he says thus, It is well; then your servant shall have peace; but if he is displeased, then be sure that evil is determined by him.

8 Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant; for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you; but if there is folly in me, slay me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?

9 And Jonathan said, God forbid; for if I knew of a certainty that evil were determined by my father to come upon you, then I would come to you and tell you.

10 Then David said to Jonathan, Who shall report to me, if your father answers you roughly?

11 And Jonathan said to David, Come, and let us go out into the field. So they both went out into the field.

12 And Jonathan said to David. The LORD God of Israel be a witness that I will sound my father about this time tomorrow, the third hour; and behold, if he feels good toward you, then I will send to you, and disclose it to you;

13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan; but if it please my father to do you harm, then I will disclose it to you, and send you away that you may go in peace; and the LORD be with you as he has been with my father.

14 And if only you will show me the kindness of God while I live, before I die;

15 And also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house for ever, when the LORD destroys the enemies of David from the face of the earth;

16 So Jonathan's house shall flourish with the house of David; and may the LORD take vengeance on David's enemies.

17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan said to him. Tomorrow is the new moon; and you shall be missed, because your seat will be empty.

19 And when at the third hour you will be wanted very much, then you shall come tomorrow to the place where you hid yourself, and you shall sit down beside the same stone.

20 And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.

21 And. behold, I will send a lad to go to gather up the arrows. And if I should say to the lad, The arrows are on this side of you, take them and come; then you will know and see that there is peace to you, there is no danger, as the LORD liveth.

22 But if I say thus to the lad, Behold, the arrows are beyond you; then go your way; for the LORD has sent you away.