1 Samuel 20:12-36

1 Samuel 20:12-36

[12] And Jonathan  said  unto David,  O LORD  God  of Israel,  when I have sounded  my father  about to morrow  any time,  or the third  toward David,  and I then send  not unto thee, and shew  [13] The LORD  do  so  and much more  to Jonathan:  but if it please  my father  to do thee evil,  then I will shew  it thee, and send thee away,  that thou mayest go  in peace:  and the LORD  be with thee, as he hath been with my father.  [14] And thou shalt not only while yet  I live  shew  me the kindness  of the LORD,  that I die  [15] But also thou shalt not cut off  thy kindness  from my house  for  ever:  no, not when the LORD  hath cut off  the enemies  of David  every one  from the face  of the earth.  [16] So Jonathan  made  a covenant with the house  of David,  saying, Let the LORD  even require  it at the hand  of 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 morrow  is the new moon:  and thou shalt be missed,  because thy seat  will be empty.  [19] And when thou hast stayed three days,  then thou shalt go down  quickly,  and come  to the place  where thou didst hide  thyself when  the business  was in hand, and shalt remain  by  the stone  Ezel.  [20] And I will shoot  three  on the side  thereof, as though I shot  at a mark.  [21] And, behold, I will send  a lad,  find out  If I expressly  unto the lad,  are on this side of thee, take  them; then come  thou: for there is peace  to thee, and no hurt;  as the LORD  liveth.  [22] But if I say  thus unto the young man,  are beyond  for the LORD  hath sent thee away.  [23] And as touching the matter  which thou and I have spoken  of, behold, the LORD  be between thee and me for  ever.  [24] So David  hid  himself in the field:  and when the new moon  was come, the king  sat him down  to eat  [25] And the king  sat  upon his seat,  as at other times,  even upon a seat  by the wall:  and Jonathan  arose,  and Abner  sat  by Saul's  side,  and David's  place  was empty.  [26] Nevertheless Saul  spake  not any thing  that day:  for he thought,  Something hath befallen  him, he is not  clean;  [27] And it came to pass on the morrow,  which was the second  day of the month,  that David's  place  was empty:  and Saul  said  unto Jonathan  his son,  Wherefore cometh  not the son  of Jesse  to meat,  neither yesterday,  nor to day?  [28] And Jonathan  answered  Saul,  David  earnestly  leave of me  to go to Bethlehem:  [29] And he said,  Let me go,  I pray thee; for our family  hath a sacrifice  in the city;  and my brother,  he hath commanded  me to be there: and now, if I have found  favour  in thine eyes,  let me get away,  I pray thee, and see  my brethren.  Therefore he cometh  not unto the king's  table.  [30] Then Saul's  anger  was kindled  against Jonathan,  and he said  unto him, Thou son  of the perverse  rebellious  woman, do not I know  that thou hast chosen  the son  of Jesse  to thine own confusion,  of thy mother's  nakedness?  [31] For as long as  the son  of Jesse  upon the ground,  thou shalt not be established,  nor thy kingdom.  Wherefore now send  and fetch  him unto me, for he shall surely die.  [32] And Jonathan  answered  Saul  his father,  and said  unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain?  what hath he done?  [33] And Saul  cast  a javelin  at him to smite  him: whereby Jonathan  knew  that it was determined  of his father  to slay  David.  [34] So Jonathan  arose  from the table  in fierce  anger,  and did eat  no meat  the second  day  of the month:  for he was grieved  for David,  because his father  had done him shame.  [35] And it came to pass in the morning,  that Jonathan  went out  into the field  at the time appointed  with David,  and a little  lad  [36] And he said  unto his lad,  Run,  find out  which I shoot.  And as the lad  ran,  he shot  an arrow  beyond