1Samuel 20
20David got out of Naioth in Ramah alive and went to Jonathan. "What do I do now? What wrong have I inflicted on your father that makes him so determined to kill me?"H1732H1272H5121H7414H935H559H6440H3083H6213H5771H2403H6440H1H1245H53152"Nothing," said Jonathan. "You've done nothing wrong. And you're not going to die. Really, you're not! My father tells me everything. He does nothing, whether big or little, without confiding in me. So why would he do this behind my back? It can't be."H559H2486H4191H1H6213H6213H1697H1419H6996H1540H241H1H5641H16973But David said, "Your father knows that we are the best of friends. So he says to himself, 'Jonathan must know nothing of this. If he does, he'll side with David.' But it's true—as sure as GOD lives, and as sure as you're alive before me right now—he's determined to kill me."H1732H7650H559H1H3045H3045H4672H2580H5869H559H3083H3045H6087H199H3068H2416H5315H2416H6587H41944Jonathan said, "Tell me what you have in mind. I'll do anything for you."H559H3083H1732H5315H559H62135David said, "Tomorrow marks the New Moon. I'm scheduled to eat dinner with the king. Instead, I'll go hide in the field until the evening of the third.H1732H559H3083H4279H2320H3427H3427H4428H398H7971H5641H7704H7992H61536If your father misses me, say, 'David asked if he could run down to Bethlehem, his hometown, for an anniversary reunion, and worship with his family.'H1H6485H6485H559H1732H7592H7592H7323H1035H5892H3117H2077H49407If he says, 'Good!' then I'm safe. But if he gets angry, you'll know for sure that he's made up his mind to kill me.H559H2896H5650H7965H2734H2734H3045H7451H36158Oh, stick with me in this. You've entered into a covenant of GOD with me, remember! If I'm in the wrong, go ahead and kill me yourself. Why bother giving me up to your father?"H6213H2617H5650H935H5650H1285H3068H3426H5771H4191H935H19"Never!" exclaimed Jonathan. "I'd never do that! If I get the slightest hint that my father is fixated on killing you, I'll tell you."H3083H559H2486H3045H3045H7451H3615H1H935H504610David asked, "And whom will you get to tell me if your father comes back with a harsh answer?"H559H1732H3083H5046H1H6030H718611"Come outside," said Jonathan. "Let's go to the field." When the two of them were out in the field,H3083H559H1732H3212H3318H7704H3318H8147H770412Jonathan said, "As GOD, the God of Israel, is my witness, by this time tomorrow I'll get it out of my father how he feels about you. Then I'll let you know what I learn.H3083H559H1732H3068H430H3478H2713H1H4279H6256H7992H2895H1732H7971H1540H24113May GOD do his worst to me if I let you down! If my father still intends to kill you, I'll tell you and get you out of here in one piece. And GOD be with you as he's been with my father!H3068H6213H3541H3254H3083H3190H1H7451H1540H241H7971H1980H7965H3068H114If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend. And if I die,H518H2416H6213H2617H3068H419115keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever. And when GOD finally rids the earth of David's enemies, stay loyal to Jonathan!"H3772H2617H1004H5704H5769H3068H3772H341H1732H376H6440H12716(SEE 20:15)H3083H3772H1004H1732H3068H1245H3027H1732H34117Jonathan repeated his pledge of love and friendship for David. He loved David more than his own soul!H3083H1732H7650H3254H160H157H160H531518Jonathan then laid out his plan: "Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you'll be missed when you don't show up for dinner.H3083H559H1732H4279H2320H6485H4186H648519On the third day, when they've quit expecting you, come to the place where you hid before, and wait beside that big boulder.H8027H3381H3966H935H4725H5641H3117H4639H3427H681H68H23720I'll shoot three arrows in the direction of the boulder.H3384H7969H2671H6654H7971H430721Then I'll send off my servant, 'Go find the arrows.' If I yell after the servant, 'The arrows are on this side! Retrieve them!' that's the signal that you can return safely—as GOD lives, not a thing to fear!H7971H5288H3212H4672H2671H559H559H5288H2671H3947H935H7965H1697H3068H241622But if I yell, 'The arrows are farther out!' then run for it—GOD wants you out of here!H559H5958H2671H1973H3212H3068H797123Regarding all the things we've discussed, remember that GOD's in on this with us to the very end!"H1697H1696H3068H5704H576924David hid in the field. On the holiday of the New Moon, the king came to the table to eat.H1732H5641H7704H2320H4428H3427H398H389925He sat where he always sat, the place against the wall, with Jonathan across the table and Abner at Saul's side. But David's seat was empty.H4428H3427H4186H6471H4186H7023H3083H6965H74H3427H7586H6654H1732H4725H648526Saul didn't mention it at the time, thinking, "Something's happened that's made him unclean. That's it—he's probably unclean for the holy meal."H7586H1696H3972H3117H559H4745H1115H2889H288927But the day after the New Moon, day two of the holiday, David's seat was still empty. Saul asked Jonathan his son, "So where's that son of Jesse? He hasn't eaten with us either yesterday or today."H4283H8145H2320H1732H4725H6485H7586H559H3083H1121H935H1121H3448H3899H8543H311728Jonathan said, "David asked my special permission to go to Bethlehem.H3083H6030H7586H1732H7592H7592H5978H103529He said, 'Give me leave to attend a family reunion back home. My brothers have ordered me to be there. If it seems all right to you, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he's not here at the king's table."H559H7971H4940H2077H5892H251H6680H4672H2580H5869H4422H7200H251H935H4428H797930Saul exploded in anger at Jonathan: "You son of a slut! Don't you think I know that you're in cahoots with the son of Jesse, disgracing both you and your mother?H7586H639H2734H3083H559H1121H5753H4780H3045H977H1121H3448H1322H1322H517H617231For as long as the son of Jesse is walking around free on this earth, your future in this kingdom is at risk. Now go get him. Bring him here. From this moment, he's as good as dead!"H3117H1121H3448H2425H127H3559H4438H7971H3947H1121H419432Jonathan stood up to his father. "Why dead? What's he done?"H3083H6030H7586H1H559H4191H621333Saul threw his spear at him to kill him. That convinced Jonathan that his father was fixated on killing David.H7586H2904H2595H5221H3083H3045H3617H1H4191H173234Jonathan stormed from the table, furiously angry, and ate nothing the rest of the day, upset for David and smarting under the humiliation from his father.H3083H6965H7979H2750H639H398H3899H8145H3117H2320H6087H1732H1H363735In the morning, Jonathan went to the field for the appointment with David. He had his young servant with him.H1242H3083H3318H7704H4150H1732H6996H528836He told the servant, "Run and get the arrows I'm about to shoot." The boy started running and Jonathan shot an arrow way beyond him.H559H5288H7323H4672H2671H3384H5288H7323H3384H2678H567437As the boy came to the area where the arrow had been shot, Jonathan yelled out, "Isn't the arrow farther out?"H5288H935H4725H2678H3083H3384H3083H7121H310H5288H559H2678H197338He yelled again, "Hurry! Quickly! Don't just stand there!" Jonathan's servant then picked up the arrow and brought it to his master.H3083H7121H310H5288H4120H2363H5975H3083H5288H3950H2671H2678H935H11339The boy, of course, knew nothing of what was going on. Only Jonathan and David knew.H5288H3045H3972H3083H1732H3045H169740Jonathan gave his quiver and bow to the boy and sent him back to town.H3083H5414H3627H5288H559H3212H935H589241After the servant was gone, David got up from his hiding place beside the boulder, then fell on his face to the ground—three times prostrating himself! And then they kissed one another and wept, friend over friend, David weeping especially hard.H5288H935H1732H6965H681H5045H5307H639H776H7812H7969H6471H5401H376H7453H1058H376H7453H1732H143142Jonathan said, "Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in GOD's name, saying, 'GOD will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!'"H3083H559H1732H3212H7965H7650H8147H8034H3068H559H3068H2233H2233H5704H5769H6965H3212H3083H935H5892
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