1 Samuel 20:5-24

5And David said to Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at the table: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening. 6If thy father shall at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.1 7If he shall say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he shall be very angry, then be sure that evil is determined by him. 8Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: however, if there is in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

9And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil is determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? 10Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father shall answer thee roughly? 11And Jonathan said to David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. 12And Jonathan said to David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not to thee, and show it thee;23 13The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it shall please my father to do thee evil, then I will show it to thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.4 14And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I may not die: 15But also thou shalt not withdraw thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.5 17And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.6 18Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.7 19And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.8910 20And I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.11 22But if I say thus to the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away. 23And as to the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.

24So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon had come, the king sat down to eat food.