1 Samuel 20:5-24

5So David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is 1the new moon, and I ought 2to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, 3that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening. 6If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to 4Bethlehem his city, because it is 5the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.’ 7If he 6says, ‘It is good,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, 7know that he has decided on evil. 8Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for 8you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But 9if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?” 9Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I should indeed learn that evil has been decided by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you about it?” 10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me 10if your father answers you harshly?” 11Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let us go out into the field.” So both of them went out to the field.

12Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and 11make it known to you? 13If it please my father to do you harm, 12may the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not 13make it known to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And 14may the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. 14If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of the Lord, that I may not die? 1515You shall not cut off your lovingkindness from my house forever, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “16May the Lord require it at the hands of David’s enemies.” 17Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because 17he loved him as he loved his own life.

18Then Jonathan said to him, “18Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed because your seat will be empty. 19When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day, and you shall remain by the stone Ezel. 20I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target. 21And behold, I will send the lad, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I specifically say to the lad, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,’ then come; for there is safety for you and 19no harm, as the Lord lives. 22But if I 20say to the youth, ‘21Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ go, for the Lord has sent you away. 2322As for the 23agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, 24the Lord is between you and me forever.”

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