1 Samuel 20:24-42

Darby(i) 24 And David hid himself in the field; and it was the new moon, and the king sat at table to eat. 25 And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul`s side, and David`s place was empty. 26 And Saul said nothing that day; for he thought, Something has befallen [him], that he is not clean: surely he is not clean. 27 And it came to pass the next day after the new moon, the second [day of the month], as David`s place was empty, that Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why has not the son of Jesse come to table, neither yesterday nor to-day? 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me [to go] to Bethlehem, 29 and said, Let me go, I pray thee; for we have a family sacrifice in the city; and my brother himself has commanded me [to be there]; and now, if I have found favour in thy sight, let me go away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. He has therefore not come to the king`s table. 30 And Saul`s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, Son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame and to the shame of thy mother`s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon earth, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. And now send and fetch him to me, for he must die. 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, Why should he be put to death? what has he done? 33 Then Saul cast the spear at him to smite him; and Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no meat the second day of the new moon; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame. 35 And it came to pass in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field, to the place agreed on with David, and a little lad with him. 36 And he said to his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. The lad ran, and he shot the arrow beyond him. 37 And when the lad came to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad and said, Is not the arrow away beyond thee? 38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not! And Jonathan`s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. 39 And the lad knew nothing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city. 41 The lad went, and David arose from the side of the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times; and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have both of us sworn in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever! And he arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.