1 Samuel 20:9-23

9Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I in fact learn that my father has decided 1to inflict harm on you, would I not inform you?” 10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will inform me 2if 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 3you, shall I not then send word to you and 4inform you? 13If it pleases my father to do you harm, 5may the Lord do so to 6me and more so, if I fail to 7inform you and send you away, so that you may go in safety. And 8may 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 9you 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, “10May the Lord demand it from the hands of David’s enemies.” 17And Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because 11he loved him as he loved his own life.

18Then Jonathan said to him, “12Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed since 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 beside the stone Ezel. 20And I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target. 21Then behold, I will send the boy, telling him, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I specifically say to the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,’ then come, because it is safe for you and there is nothing to harm you, as the Lord lives. 22But if I 13say to the youth, ‘14Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ go, because the Lord has sent you away. 2315As for the 16agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, 17the Lord is between you and me forever.”