1 Samuel 20:21-42 ▼

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.

23 And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD is between you and me forever.

24 So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to dine.

25 And the king sat upon his seat by the wall as at other times; and Jonathan went and sat upon a seat, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.

26 Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day; for he thought, Something has happened to him, or perhaps he is unclean, or perhaps he has not purified himself.

27 And it came to pass on the morrow, the second day of the new moon, David's place was still empty; and Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why has not the son of Jesse come to eat, either yesterday or today?

28 And Jonathan answered and said to Saul his father, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem;

29 And he said, Let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city; and my brother has commanded me to be there; and now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers. That is the reason he has not come to the king's table.

30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, O you rebellious son, do I not know that you are delighted in the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?

31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Therefore, now I will send and have him brought to me, for he shall surely die.

32 And Jonathan answered and said to Saul his father, Why should he be put to death? What has he done?

33 And Saul lifted up a javelin to smite him; whereby Jonathan knew that his father was determined to slay David.

34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did not eat food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had determined evil against him.

35 And it came to pass in the morning, Jonathan went out into the field to meet David, and a little lad was with him.

36 And he said to his lad, Run, gather up the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

37 And when the lad came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called after the lad and said, Behold, the arrow is beyond you.

38 And Jonathan called again after the lad, saying, Make haste, quick, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows and brought them to his master.

39 But the lad knew not anything; only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

40 And Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city.

41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose from beside the stone and came to Jonathan and fell on his face to the ground and bowed himself three times; and they kissed each other, and wept over each other; but David wept more.

42 Then Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, inasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever. Then Jonathan arose and went into the city.