1 Samuel 20:5-24

5So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I’m supposed to sit down and eat with the king. Instead, let me go, and I’ll hide in the countryside for the next two nights.

6If your father misses me at all, say, ‘David urgently requested my permission to go quickly to his hometown, Bethlehem, for an annual sacrifice there involving the whole clan.’

7If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions.

8Deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I have done anything wrong, then kill me yourself; why take me to your father?”

9“No!” Jonathan responded. “If I ever find out my father has evil intentions against you, wouldn’t I tell you about it?”

10So David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

11He answered David, “Come on, let’s go out to the countryside.” So both of them went out to the countryside.

12“By the Lord, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If I find out that he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?

13If my father intends to bring evil on you, may the Lord punish Jonathan and do so severely if I do not tell you and send you away so you may leave safely. May the Lord be with you, just as he was with my father.

14If I continue to live, show me kindness from the Lord, but if I die,

15don’t ever withdraw your kindness from my household — not even when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

16Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord hold David’s enemies accountable.”

17Jonathan once again swore to David in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

18Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the New Moon; you’ll be missed because your seat will be empty.

19The following day hurry down and go to the place where you hid on the day this incident began and stay beside the rock Ezel.

20I will shoot three arrows beside it as if I’m aiming at a target.

21Then I will send a servant and say, ‘Go and find the arrows! ’ Now, if I expressly say to the servant, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you — get them,’ then come, because as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no problem.

22But if I say this to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you! ’ then go, for the Lord is sending you away.

23As for the matter you and I have spoken about, the Lord will be a witness between you and me forever.”

24So David hid in the countryside. At the New Moon, the king sat down to eat the meal.