New American Standard Bible 2020

1 Samuel 20:5-18

5So David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is 1the new moon, and I am obligated 2to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go 3so that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening. 6If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly requested leave of me to run to 4Bethlehem, his city, because it is 5the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.’ 7If he 6says, ‘That is good,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, 7be aware that he has decided on evil. 8So deal kindly with your servant, for 8you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But 9if 10I am guilty of wrongdoing, kill me yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?” 9Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I in fact learn that my father has decided 11to inflict harm on you, would I not inform you?” 10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will inform me 12if your father answers you harshly?” 11Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let’s go out to the field.” So both of them went out to the field.

12Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, is my witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow or the third day, behold, if he has a good feeling toward 13you, shall I not then send word to you and 14inform you? 13If it pleases my father to do you harm, 15may the Lord do so to 16me and more so, if I fail to 17inform you and send you away, so that you may go in safety. And 18may the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. 14And if I am still alive, will you not show me the faithfulness of the Lord, so that I do not die? 15And 19you shall never cut off your loyalty to my house, 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, “20May the Lord demand it from the hands of David’s enemies.” 17And Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because 21he loved him as he loved his own life.

18Then Jonathan said to him, “22Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed since your seat will be empty.

Read all of 1 Samuel 20

Notes

1. 1 Samuel 20:5 Num 10:10; 28:11-15; Amos 8:5 ↩
2. 1 Samuel 20:5 1 Sam 20:24, 27 ↩
3. 1 Samuel 20:5 1 Sam 19:2 ↩
4. 1 Samuel 20:6 1 Sam 17:58 ↩
5. 1 Samuel 20:6 Deut 12:5; 1 Sam 9:12 ↩
6. 1 Samuel 20:7 Lit says thus ↩
7. 1 Samuel 20:7 1 Sam 25:17 ↩
8. 1 Samuel 20:8 1 Sam 18:3; 23:18 ↩
9. 1 Samuel 20:8 2 Sam 14:32 ↩
10. 1 Samuel 20:8 Lit guilt exists in me ↩
11. 1 Samuel 20:9 Lit evil to come on ↩
12. 1 Samuel 20:10 As in ancient versions; MT or what your father ↩
13. 1 Samuel 20:12 Lit David ↩
14. 1 Samuel 20:12 Lit uncover your ear ↩
15. 1 Samuel 20:13 Ruth 1:17; 1 Sam 3:17 ↩
16. 1 Samuel 20:13 Lit Jonathan ↩
17. 1 Samuel 20:13 Lit uncover your ear ↩
18. 1 Samuel 20:13 Josh 1:5; 1 Sam 17:37; 18:12; 1 Chr 22:11, 16 ↩
19. 1 Samuel 20:15 2 Sam 9:1, 3 ↩
20. 1 Samuel 20:16 Deut 23:21; 1 Sam 25:22 ↩
21. 1 Samuel 20:17 1 Sam 18:1 ↩
22. 1 Samuel 20:18 1 Sam 20:5, 25 ↩

Notes

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 20