1 Samuel 20:5-24

5David said to Jonathan, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and I am certainly expected to join the king for a meal. You must send me away so I can hide in the field until the third evening from now.

6If your father happens to miss me, you should say, ‘David urgently requested me to let him go to his city Bethlehem, for there is an annual sacrifice there for his entire family.’

7If he should then say, ‘That’s fine,’ then your servant is safe. But if he becomes very angry, be assured that he has decided to harm me.

8You must be loyal to your servant, for you have made a covenant with your servant in the Lord’s name. If I am guilty, you yourself kill me! Why bother taking me to your father?”

9Jonathan said, “Far be it from you to suggest this! If I were at all aware that my father had decided to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you about it?”

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

11Jonathan said to David, “Come on. Let’s go out to the field.” When the two of them had gone out into the field,

12Jonathan said to David, “The Lord God of Israel is my witness. I will feel out my father about this time the day after tomorrow. If he is favorably inclined toward David, will I not then send word to you and let you know?

13But if my father intends to do you harm, may the Lord do all this and more to Jonathan, if I don’t let you know and send word to you so you can go safely on your way. May the Lord be with you, as he was with my father.

14While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the Lord, or else I will die!

15Don’t ever cut off your loyalty to my family, not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth

16and called David’s enemies to account.” So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David.

17Jonathan once again took an oath with David, because he loved him. In fact Jonathan loved him as much as he did his own life.

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

19On the third day you should go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself the day this all started. Stay near the stone Ezel.

20I will shoot three arrows near it, as though I were shooting at a target.

21When I send a boy after them, I will say, “Go and find the arrows.” If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them,’ then come back. For as surely as the Lord lives, you will be safe and there will no problem.

22But if I say to the boy, “Look, the arrows are on the other side of you,’ get away. For in that case the Lord has sent you away.

23With regard to the matter that you and I discussed, the Lord is the witness between us forever!”

24So David hid in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat down to eat his meal.