1 Samuel 20:5-24

5So David said to Jonathan, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon, when I am supposed to sit down with the king to eat. Instead, let me go hide myself in the countryside until the third evening.

6If your father misses me at all, then say: ‘David earnestly asked my permission to run to Beth-lehem, his town, for it is the annual sacrifice there for the whole family.’

7If he says thus, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe; but if he becomes very angry, then know that he is determined to harm me.

8Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Adonai with you. But if there is any iniquity in me, then kill me yourself! Why should you bring me to your father?”

9Jonathan replied, “Far be it from you! For if I know for sure that my father has determined evil to come on you, then wouldn’t I tell you about it?”

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

11Jonathan said to David, “Come, let’s go out to the field.” So they both went out to the field.

12Then Jonathan said to David, “By Adonai, God of Israel, I will sound out my father about this time tomorrow or the day after. Look, if it is good toward David, wouldn’t I then send word to you and disclose it to you?

13May Adonai do so to Jonathan and even worse, should my father intend to do you evil, if I don’t disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in shalom. So may Adonai be with you as He has been with my father.

14“Now if I am still alive, wouldn’t you show me the loyal love of Adonai so I wouldn’t die?

15Yet also, don’t cut off your loyal love from my household ever—not even when Adonai cuts off all of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

16So Jonathan cut a covenant with the house of David, “So may Adonai requite David’s enemies.”

17Jonathan made David swear again because of the love he had for him, for he loved him as he loved himself.

18Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the New Moon. You’ll be missed because your seat will be empty.

19On the third day, you must go down quickly and come to the place where you hid as you did on that day, and remain close to the stone Ezel.

20I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target.

21Now look, I will send a lad saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I specifically say to the lad, ‘See, the arrows are on this side of you—get them,’ then come; for it is safe for you and no danger, as Adonai lives.

22But if I say to the boy: ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go your way, for Adonai has released you.

23But as for the matter which I and you have spoken about, behold, Adonai is between me and you forever.”

24So David hid himself in the field, and when the New Moon came, the king sat down to eat a meal.