1 Samuel 20:1-23
1
David fled from the sheds near Ramah, and went to Jonathan. "What have I done?" he asked him. "What crime or what offense does your father hold against me that he seeks my life?"
2
Jonathan answered him: "Heaven forbid that you should die! My father does nothing, great or small, without disclosing it to me. Why, then, should my father conceal this from me? This cannot be so!"
3
But David replied: "Your father is well aware that I am favored with your friendship, so he has decided, 'Jonathan must not know of this lest he be grieved.' Nevertheless, as the LORD lives and as you live, there is but a step between me and death."
4
Jonathan then said to David, "I will do whatever you wish."
5
David answered: "Tomorrow is the new moon, when I should in fact dine with the king. Let me go and hide in the open country until evening.
6
If it turns out that your father misses me, say, 'David urged me to let him go on short notice to his city Bethlehem, because his whole clan is holding its seasonal sacrifice there.'
7
If he says, 'Very well,' your servant is safe. But if he becomes quite angry, you can be sure he has planned some harm.
8
Do this kindness for your servant because of the LORD'S bond between us, into which you brought me: if I am guilty, kill me yourself! Why should you give me up to your father?"
9
But Jonathan answered: "Not I! If ever I find out that my father is determined to inflict injury upon you, I will certainly let you know."
10
David then asked Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father gives you a harsh answer?"
11
(Jonathan replied to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." When they were out in the open country together,
12
Jonathan said to David: "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, I will sound out my father about this time tomorrow. Whether he is well disposed toward David or not, I will send you the information.
13
Should it please my father to bring any injury upon you, may the LORD do thus and so to Jonathan if I do not apprise you of it and send you on your way in peace. May the LORD be with you even as he was with my father.
14
Only this: if I am still alive, may you show me the kindness of the LORD. But if I die,
15
never withdraw your kindness from my house. And when the LORD exterminates all the enemies of David from the surface of the earth,
16
the name of Jonathan must never be allowed by the family of David to die out from among you, or the LORD will make you answer for it."
17
And in his love for David, Jonathan renewed his oath to him, because he loved him as his very self.)
18
Jonathan then said to him: "Tomorrow is the new moon; and you will be missed, since your place will be vacant.
19
On the following day you will be missed all the more. Go to the spot where you hid on the other occasion and wait near the mound there.
20
On the third day of the month I will shoot arrows, as though aiming at a target.
21
I will then send my attendant to go and recover the arrows. If in fact I say to him, 'Look, the arrow is this side of you; pick it up,' come, for you are safe. As the LORD lives, there will be nothing to fear.
22
But if I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrow is beyond you,' go, for the LORD sends you away.
23
However, in the matter which you and I have discussed, the LORD shall be between you and me forever."
1
David fled from the sheds near Ramah, and went to Jonathan. "What have I done?" he asked him. "What crime or what offense does your father hold against me that he seeks my life?"
2
Jonathan answered him: "Heaven forbid that you should die! My father does nothing, great or small, without disclosing it to me. Why, then, should my father conceal this from me? This cannot be so!"
3
But David replied: "Your father is well aware that I am favored with your friendship, so he has decided, 'Jonathan must not know of this lest he be grieved.' Nevertheless, as the LORD lives and as you live, there is but a step between me and death."
4
Jonathan then said to David, "I will do whatever you wish."
5
David answered: "Tomorrow is the new moon, when I should in fact dine with the king. Let me go and hide in the open country until evening.
6
If it turns out that your father misses me, say, 'David urged me to let him go on short notice to his city Bethlehem, because his whole clan is holding its seasonal sacrifice there.'
7
If he says, 'Very well,' your servant is safe. But if he becomes quite angry, you can be sure he has planned some harm.
8
Do this kindness for your servant because of the LORD'S bond between us, into which you brought me: if I am guilty, kill me yourself! Why should you give me up to your father?"
9
But Jonathan answered: "Not I! If ever I find out that my father is determined to inflict injury upon you, I will certainly let you know."
10
David then asked Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father gives you a harsh answer?"
11
(Jonathan replied to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." When they were out in the open country together,
12
Jonathan said to David: "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, I will sound out my father about this time tomorrow. Whether he is well disposed toward David or not, I will send you the information.
13
Should it please my father to bring any injury upon you, may the LORD do thus and so to Jonathan if I do not apprise you of it and send you on your way in peace. May the LORD be with you even as he was with my father.
14
Only this: if I am still alive, may you show me the kindness of the LORD. But if I die,
15
never withdraw your kindness from my house. And when the LORD exterminates all the enemies of David from the surface of the earth,
16
the name of Jonathan must never be allowed by the family of David to die out from among you, or the LORD will make you answer for it."
17
And in his love for David, Jonathan renewed his oath to him, because he loved him as his very self.)
18
Jonathan then said to him: "Tomorrow is the new moon; and you will be missed, since your place will be vacant.
19
On the following day you will be missed all the more. Go to the spot where you hid on the other occasion and wait near the mound there.
20
On the third day of the month I will shoot arrows, as though aiming at a target.
21
I will then send my attendant to go and recover the arrows. If in fact I say to him, 'Look, the arrow is this side of you; pick it up,' come, for you are safe. As the LORD lives, there will be nothing to fear.
22
But if I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrow is beyond you,' go, for the LORD sends you away.
23
However, in the matter which you and I have discussed, the LORD shall be between you and me forever."
Posts
