1 Samuel 20:5-24

5David said to Jonathan, ‘Tomorrow we have a special meal because of the new moon. I should go and eat this meal with the king. Instead, let me go and hide in the field. I will stay there until the third evening.

6Your father may see that I am not at the meal. If he does, say to him, “David asked me to let him go to his home in Bethlehem. His family offer a sacrifice there at this time every year.”

7Your father may say, “That is good.” If he says that, I will know that I am safe. But if he becomes very angry, we will know that he has decided to hurt me.

8Jonathan, please show that you love me. The Lord knows about the promise that you made, to be my friend. If I am guilty of a sin, please kill me yourself. Do not let your father kill me.’

9Jonathan said, ‘No, that will never happen! If I ever find out that my father wants to kill you, I will surely tell you.’

10David asked Jonathan, ‘If your father answers you in an angry way, who will tell me?’

11Jonathan said, ‘Come with me into the field.’ So they went there together.

12Then Jonathan said to David, ‘I make this promise to you, and the Lord, Israel's God, knows that it is true. Tomorrow or the next day I will find out what my father is thinking about you. If he is feeling friendly to you, I will send someone to tell you.

13But if my father wants to hurt you, I will tell you clearly. I ask the Lord to punish me, if I do not tell you. I will help you to escape and be safe. I pray that the Lord will bless you, as he blessed my father.

14While I am still alive, please be kind to me. Continue to love me, as the Lord loves his people. And if I die,

15continue to be kind to my family. Even when the Lord removes every one of your enemies from the earth, do not forget about my family.’

16So Jonathan made an agreement with David's family. He said, ‘I am asking the Lord to destroy all David's enemies.’

17Jonathan asked David to promise again that they would be friends. That was because Jonathan loved David as much as he loved his own life.

18Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Tomorrow we will have the special meal because of the new moon. Nobody will be sitting in your seat, so people will know that you are not there.

19The day after tomorrow, go back to the place where you hid the other time. Wait beside the rock called Ezel.

20I will shoot three arrows towards the rock to see where they go.

21Then I will send a boy to find the arrows. If you are not in danger I will say to the boy, “The arrows are on this side of you. Come and bring them here.” That will mean that you are safe. You can then come out from the place where you are hiding. As surely as the Lord lives, I promise that you will not be in trouble.

22But if I say to the boy, “Look, the arrows are beyond you,” you must run away. It will mean that the Lord has sent you away.

23But never forget the promise that we have made to each other. The Lord will make sure that we are faithful to each other.’

24So David hid in the field. At the time of the new moon, the king sat down to eat the special meal.