Part 20

09:020:013 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.

09:020:014 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:

09:020:015 But also thou shalt not cut off 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.

09:020:016 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

09:020:017 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

09:020:018 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.

09:020:019 And 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.

09:020:020 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.

09:020:021 And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto 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.

09:020:022 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.

09:020:023 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.

09:020:024 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.

09:020:025 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

09:020:026 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

09:020:027 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?

09:020:028 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:

09:020:029 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.

09:020:030 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

09:020:031 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

09:020:032 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?

09:020:033 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.

09:020:034 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.

09:020:035 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.

09:020:036 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

09:020:037 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?

09:020:038 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

09:020:039 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

09:020:040 And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.