¹ And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

² And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

³ And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

⁴ Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

⁵ And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

⁶ If thy father 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.

⁷ If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.

⁸ Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

⁹ And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?

¹⁰ Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

¹¹ And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.

¹² And Jonathan said unto 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 unto thee, and show it thee;

¹³ The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will show 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.

¹⁴ And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.

¹⁷ And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

¹⁸ Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.

¹⁹ 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.

²⁰ And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.

²¹ 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.

²² 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.

²³ And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.

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

²⁵ 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.

²⁶ Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

²⁷ 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?

²⁸ And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:

²⁹ 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 favor in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.

³⁰ 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?

³¹ 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.

³² And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?

³³ And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.

³⁴ 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.

³⁵ 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.

³⁶ 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.

³⁷ 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?

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

⁴⁰ And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.

⁴¹ And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward 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 sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD 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.

---

¹ And David ^H1732 fled ^H1272 from Naioth ^H5121 in Ramah, ^H7414 and came ^H935 and said ^H559 before ^H6440 Jonathan, ^H3083 What have I done? ^H6213 what is mine iniquity? ^H5771 and what is my sin ^H2403 before ^H6440 thy father, ^H1 that he seeketh ^H1245 my life? ^H5315

² And he said ^H559 unto him, God forbid; ^H2486 thou shalt not die: ^H4191 behold, my father ^H1 will do ^{H6213 H6213} nothing ^H1697 either great ^H1419 or small, ^H6996 but that he will shew ^{H1540 H241} it me: and why should my father ^H1 hide ^H5641 this thing ^H1697 from me? it is not so.

³ And David ^H1732 sware ^H7650 moreover, and said, ^H559 Thy father ^H1 certainly ^H3045 knoweth ^H3045 that I have found ^H4672 grace ^H2580 in thine eyes; ^H5869 and he saith, ^H559 Let not Jonathan ^H3083 know ^H3045 this, lest he be grieved: ^H6087 but truly ^H199 as the LORD ^H3068 liveth, ^H2416 and as thy soul ^H5315 liveth, ^H2416 there is but a step ^H6587 between me and death. ^H4194

⁴ Then said ^H559 Jonathan ^H3083 unto David, ^H1732 Whatsoever thy soul ^H5315 desireth, ^H559 I will even do ^H6213 it for thee.

⁵ And David ^H1732 said ^H559 unto Jonathan, ^H3083 Behold, to morrow ^H4279 is the new moon, ^H2320 and I should not fail ^H3427 to sit ^H3427 with the king ^H4428 at meat: ^H398 but let me go, ^H7971 that I may hide ^H5641 myself in the field ^H7704 unto the third ^H7992 day at even. ^H6153

⁶ If thy father ^H1 at all ^H6485 miss ^H6485 me, then say, ^H559 David ^H1732 earnestly ^H7592 asked ^H7592 leave of me that he might run ^H7323 to Bethlehem ^H1035 his city: ^H5892 for there is a yearly ^H3117 sacrifice ^H2077 there for all the family. ^H4940

⁷ If he say ^H559 thus, It is well; ^H2896 thy servant ^H5650 shall have peace: ^H7965 but if he be very ^H2734 wroth, ^H2734 then be sure ^H3045 that evil ^H7451 is determined ^H3615 by him.

⁸ Therefore thou shalt deal ^H6213 kindly ^H2617 with thy servant; ^H5650 for thou hast brought ^H935 thy servant ^H5650 into a covenant ^H1285 of the LORD ^H3068 with thee: notwithstanding, if there be ^H3426 in me iniquity, ^H5771 slay ^H4191 me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring ^H935 me to thy father? ^H1

⁹ And Jonathan ^H3083 said, ^H559 Far be it from thee: ^H2486 for if I knew ^H3045 certainly ^H3045 that evil ^H7451 were determined ^H3615 by my father ^H1 to come ^H935 upon thee, then would not I tell ^H5046 it thee?

¹⁰ Then said ^H559 David ^H1732 to Jonathan, ^H3083 Who shall tell ^H5046 me? or what if thy father ^H1 answer ^H6030 thee roughly? ^H7186

¹¹ And Jonathan ^H3083 said ^H559 unto David, ^H1732 Come, ^H3212 and let us go out ^H3318 into the field. ^H7704 And they went out ^H3318 both ^H8147 of them into the field. ^H7704

¹² And Jonathan ^H3083 said ^H559 unto David, ^H1732 O LORD ^H3068 God ^H430 of Israel, ^H3478 when I have sounded ^H2713 my father ^H1 about to morrow ^H4279 any time, ^H6256 or the third ^H7992 day, and, behold, if there be good ^H2895 toward David, ^H1732 and I then send ^H7971 not unto thee, and shew ^{H1540 H241} it thee;

¹³ The LORD ^H3068 do ^H6213 so ^H3541 and much more ^H3254 to Jonathan: ^H3083 but if it please ^H3190 my father ^H1 to do thee evil, ^H7451 then I will shew ^{H1540 H241} it thee, and send thee away, ^H7971 that thou mayest go ^H1980 in peace: ^H7965 and the LORD ^H3068 be with thee, as he hath been with my father. ^H1

¹⁴ And thou shalt not only while yet ^H518 I live ^H2416 shew ^H6213 me the kindness ^H2617 of the LORD, ^H3068 that I die ^H4191 not:

¹⁵ But also thou shalt not cut off ^H3772 thy kindness ^H2617 from my house ^H1004 for ^H5704 ever: ^H5769 no, not when the LORD ^H3068 hath cut off ^H3772 the enemies ^H341 of David ^H1732 every one ^H376 from the face ^H6440 of the earth. ^H127

¹⁶ So Jonathan ^H3083 made ^H3772 a covenant with the house ^H1004 of David, ^H1732 saying, Let the LORD ^H3068 even require ^H1245 it at the hand ^H3027 of David's ^H1732 enemies. ^H341

¹⁷ And Jonathan ^H3083 caused David ^H1732 to swear ^H7650 again, ^H3254 because he loved ^H160 him: for he loved ^H157 him as he loved ^H160 his own soul. ^H5315

¹⁸ Then Jonathan ^H3083 said ^H559 to David, ^H1732 To morrow ^H4279 is the new moon: ^H2320 and thou shalt be missed, ^H6485 because thy seat ^H4186 will be empty. ^H6485

¹⁹ And when thou hast stayed three days, ^H8027 then thou shalt go down ^H3381 quickly, ^H3966 and come ^H935 to the place ^H4725 where thou didst hide ^H5641 thyself when ^H3117 the business ^H4639 was in hand, and shalt remain ^H3427 by ^H681 the stone ^H68 Ezel. ^H237

²⁰ And I will shoot ^H3384 three ^H7969 arrows ^H2671 on the side ^H6654 thereof, as though I shot ^H7971 at a mark. ^H4307

²¹ And, behold, I will send ^H7971 a lad, ^H5288 saying, Go, ^H3212 find out ^H4672 the arrows. ^H2671 If I expressly ^H559 say ^H559 unto the lad, ^H5288 Behold, the arrows ^H2671 are on this side of thee, take ^H3947 them; then come ^H935 thou: for there is peace ^H7965 to thee, and no hurt; ^H1697 as the LORD ^H3068 liveth. ^H2416

²² But if I say ^H559 thus unto the young man, ^H5958 Behold, the arrows ^H2671 are beyond ^H1973 thee; go thy way: ^H3212 for the LORD ^H3068 hath sent thee away. ^H7971

²³ And as touching the matter ^H1697 which thou and I have spoken ^H1696 of, behold, the LORD ^H3068 be between thee and me for ^H5704 ever. ^H5769

²⁴ So David ^H1732 hid ^H5641 himself in the field: ^H7704 and when the new moon ^H2320 was come, the king ^H4428 sat him down ^H3427 to eat ^H398 meat. ^H3899

²⁵ And the king ^H4428 sat ^H3427 upon his seat, ^H4186 as at other times, ^H6471 even upon a seat ^H4186 by the wall: ^H7023 and Jonathan ^H3083 arose, ^H6965 and Abner ^H74 sat ^H3427 by Saul's ^H7586 side, ^H6654 and David's ^H1732 place ^H4725 was empty. ^H6485

²⁶ Nevertheless Saul ^H7586 spake ^H1696 not any thing ^H3972 that day: ^H3117 for he thought, ^H559 Something hath befallen ^H4745 him, he is not ^H1115 clean; ^H2889 surely he is not clean. ^H2889

²⁷ And it came to pass on the morrow, ^H4283 which was the second ^H8145 day of the month, ^H2320 that David's ^H1732 place ^H4725 was empty: ^H6485 and Saul ^H7586 said ^H559 unto Jonathan ^H3083 his son, ^H1121 Wherefore cometh ^H935 not the son ^H1121 of Jesse ^H3448 to meat, ^H3899 neither yesterday, ^H8543 nor to day? ^H3117

²⁸ And Jonathan ^H3083 answered ^H6030 Saul, ^H7586 David ^H1732 earnestly ^H7592 asked ^H7592 leave of me ^H5978 to go to Bethlehem: ^H1035

²⁹ And he said, ^H559 Let me go, ^H7971 I pray thee; for our family ^H4940 hath a sacrifice ^H2077 in the city; ^H5892 and my brother, ^H251 he hath commanded ^H6680 me to be there: and now, if I have found ^H4672 favour ^H2580 in thine eyes, ^H5869 let me get away, ^H4422 I pray thee, and see ^H7200 my brethren. ^H251 Therefore he cometh ^H935 not unto the king's ^H4428 table. ^H7979

³⁰ Then Saul's ^H7586 anger ^H639 was kindled ^H2734 against Jonathan, ^H3083 and he said ^H559 unto him, Thou son ^H1121 of the perverse ^H5753 rebellious ^H4780 woman, do not I know ^H3045 that thou hast chosen ^H977 the son ^H1121 of Jesse ^H3448 to thine own confusion, ^H1322 and unto the confusion ^H1322 of thy mother's ^H517 nakedness? ^H6172

³¹ For as long as ^H3117 the son ^H1121 of Jesse ^H3448 liveth ^H2425 upon the ground, ^H127 thou shalt not be established, ^H3559 nor thy kingdom. ^H4438 Wherefore now send ^H7971 and fetch ^H3947 him unto me, for he shall surely die. ^{H1121 H4194}

³² And Jonathan ^H3083 answered ^H6030 Saul ^H7586 his father, ^H1 and said ^H559 unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? ^H4191 what hath he done? ^H6213

³³ And Saul ^H7586 cast ^H2904 a javelin ^H2595 at him to smite ^H5221 him: whereby Jonathan ^H3083 knew ^H3045 that it was determined ^H3617 of his father ^H1 to slay ^H4191 David. ^H1732

³⁴ So Jonathan ^H3083 arose ^H6965 from the table ^H7979 in fierce ^H2750 anger, ^H639 and did eat ^H398 no meat ^H3899 the second ^H8145 day ^H3117 of the month: ^H2320 for he was grieved ^H6087 for David, ^H1732 because his father ^H1 had done him shame. ^H3637

³⁵ And it came to pass in the morning, ^H1242 that Jonathan ^H3083 went out ^H3318 into the field ^H7704 at the time appointed ^H4150 with David, ^H1732 and a little ^H6996 lad ^H5288 with him.

³⁶ And he said ^H559 unto his lad, ^H5288 Run, ^H7323 find out ^H4672 now the arrows ^H2671 which I shoot. ^H3384 And as the lad ^H5288 ran, ^H7323 he shot ^H3384 an arrow ^H2678 beyond ^H5674 him.

³⁷ And when the lad ^H5288 was come ^H935 to the place ^H4725 of the arrow ^H2678 which Jonathan ^H3083 had shot, ^H3384 Jonathan ^H3083 cried ^H7121 after ^H310 the lad, ^H5288 and said, ^H559 Is not the arrow ^H2678 beyond ^H1973 thee?

³⁸ And Jonathan ^H3083 cried ^H7121 after ^H310 the lad, ^H5288 Make speed, ^H4120 haste, ^H2363 stay ^H5975 not. And Jonathan's ^H3083 lad ^H5288 gathered up ^H3950 the arrows, ^{H2671 H2678} and came ^H935 to his master. ^H113

³⁹ But the lad ^H5288 knew ^H3045 not any thing: ^H3972 only Jonathan ^H3083 and David ^H1732 knew ^H3045 the matter. ^H1697

⁴⁰ And Jonathan ^H3083 gave ^H5414 his artillery ^H3627 unto his lad, ^H5288 and said ^H559 unto him, Go, ^H3212 carry ^H935 them to the city. ^H5892

⁴¹ And as soon as the lad ^H5288 was gone, ^H935 David ^H1732 arose ^H6965 out of a place toward ^H681 the south, ^H5045 and fell ^H5307 on his face ^H639 to the ground, ^H776 and bowed ^H7812 himself three ^H7969 times: ^H6471 and they kissed ^H5401 one ^H376 another, ^H7453 and wept ^H1058 one ^H376 with another, ^H7453 until David ^H1732 exceeded. ^H1431

⁴² And Jonathan ^H3083 said ^H559 to David, ^H1732 Go ^H3212 in peace, ^H7965 forasmuch as we have sworn ^H7650 both ^H8147 of us in the name ^H8034 of the LORD, ^H3068 saying, ^H559 The LORD ^H3068 be between me and thee, and between my seed ^H2233 and thy seed ^H2233 for ^H5704 ever. ^H5769 And he arose ^H6965 and departed: ^H3212 and Jonathan ^H3083 went ^H935 into the city. ^H5892

---

¹ And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

² And he said unto him, Far from it; thou shalt not die: behold, my father doeth nothing either great or small, but that he discloseth it unto me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

³ And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father knoweth well that I have found favor in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

⁴ Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.

⁵ And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.

⁶ If thy father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

⁷ If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.

⁸ Therefore deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee: but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

⁹ And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?

¹⁰ Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?

¹¹ And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.

¹² And Jonathan said unto David, Jehovah, the God of Israel, `be witness': when I have sounded my father about this time to-morrow, `or' the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send unto thee, and disclose it unto thee?

¹³ Jehovah do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do thee evil, if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and Jehovah be with thee, as he hath been with my father.

¹⁴ And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Jehovah, that I die not;

¹⁵ but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever; no, not when Jehovah hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.

¹⁶ So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, `saying', And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David's enemies.

¹⁷ And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

¹⁸ Then Jonathan said unto him, To-morrow is the new moon: and thou wilt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.

¹⁹ And when thou hast stayed three days, 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.

²⁰ And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.

²¹ And, behold, I will send the lad, `saying', Go, find the arrows. If I say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee; take them, and come; for there is peace to thee and no hurt, as Jehovah liveth.

²² But if I say thus unto the boy, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way; for Jehovah hath sent thee away.

²³ And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between thee and me for ever.

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

²⁵ And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul's side: but David's place was empty.

²⁶ Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.

²⁷ And it came to pass on the morrow after the new moon, `which was' the second `day', 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?

²⁸ And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:

²⁹ 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 favor in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he is not come unto the king's table.

³⁰ Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of a perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame, and unto the shame of thy mother's nakedness?

³¹ 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.

³² And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore should he be put to death? what hath he done?

³³ And Saul cast his spear at him to smite him; whereby Jonathan knew that is was determined of his father to put David to death.

³⁴ So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no food the second day of the month; 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 at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.

³⁶ And he said unto his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

³⁷ 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?

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 But the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

⁴⁰ And Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.

⁴¹ And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of `a place' toward 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 sworn both of us in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah shall 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.

---

¹ And David fleeth from Naioth in Ramah, and cometh, and saith before Jonathan, `What have I done? what `is' mine iniquity? and what my sin before thy father, that he is seeking my life?'

² And he saith to him, `Far be it! thou dost not die; lo, my father doth not do anything great or small and doth not uncover mine ear; and wherefore doth my father hide from me this thing? this `thing' is not.'

³ And David sweareth again, and saith, `Thy father hath certainly known that I have found grace in thine eyes, and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved; and yet, Jehovah liveth, and thy soul liveth, but -- as a step between me and death.'

⁴ And Jonathan saith to David, `What doth thy soul say? -- and I do it for thee.'

⁵ And David saith unto Jonathan, `Lo, the new moon `is' to-morrow; and I do certainly sit with the king to eat; and thou hast sent me away, and I have been hidden in a field till the third evening;

⁶ if thy father at all look after me, and thou hast said, David asked earnestly of me to run to Beth-Lehem his city, for a sacrifice of the days `is' there for all the family.

⁷ If thus he say: Good; peace `is' for thy servant; and if it be very displeasing to him -- know that the evil hath been determined by him;

⁸ and thou hast done kindness, to thy servant, for into a covenant of Jehovah thou hast brought thy servant with thee; -- and if there is in me iniquity, put thou me to death; and unto thy father, why is this -- thou dost bring me in?'

⁹ And Jonathan saith, `Far be it from thee! for I certainly do not know that the evil hath been determined by my father to come upon thee, and I do not declare it to thee.'

¹⁰ And David saith unto Jonathan, `Who doth declare to me? or what `if' thy father doth answer thee sharply?'

¹¹ And Jonathan saith unto David, `Come, and we go out into the field;' and they go out both of them into the field.

¹² And Jonathan saith unto David, `Jehovah, God of Israel -- when I search my father, about `this' time to-morrow `or' the third `day', and lo, good `is' towards David, and I do not then send unto thee, and have uncovered thine ear --

¹³ thus doth Jehovah do to Jonathan, and thus doth He add; when the evil concerning thee is good to my father, then I have uncovered thine ear, and sent thee away, and thou hast gone in peace, and Jehovah is with thee, as he was with my father;

¹⁴ and not only while I am alive dost thou do with me the kindness of Jehovah, and I die not,

¹⁵ but thou dost not cut off thy kindness from my house unto the age, nor in Jehovah's cutting off the enemies of David, each one from off the face of the ground.'

¹⁶ And Jonathan covenanteth with the house of David, and Jehovah hath sought `it' from the hand of the enemies of David;

¹⁷ and Jonathan addeth to cause David to swear, because he loveth him, for with the love of his own soul he hath loved him.

¹⁸ And Jonathan saith to him, `To-morrow `is' new moon, and thou hast been looked after, for thy seat is looked after;

¹⁹ and on the third day thou dost certainly come down, and hast come in unto the place where thou wast hidden in the day of the work, and hast remained near the stone Ezel.

²⁰ `And I shoot three of the arrows at the side, sending out for myself at a mark;

²¹ and lo, I send the youth: Go, find the arrows. If I at all say to the youth, Lo, the arrows `are' on this side of thee -- take them, -- then come thou, for peace `is' for thee, and there is nothing; Jehovah liveth.

²² And if thus I say to the young man, Lo, the arrows `are' beyond thee, -- go, for Jehovah hath sent thee away;

²³ as to the thing which we have spoken, I and thou, lo, Jehovah `is' between me and thee -- unto the age.'

²⁴ And David is hidden in the field, and it is the new moon, and the king sitteth down by the food to eat,

²⁵ and the king sitteth on his seat, as time by time, on a seat by the wall, and Jonathan riseth, and Abner sitteth at the side of Saul, and David's place is looked after.

²⁶ And Saul hath not spoken anything on that day, for he said, `It `is' an accident; he is not clean -- surely not clean.'

²⁷ And it cometh to pass on the second morrow of the new moon, that David's place is looked after, and Saul saith unto Jonathan his son, `Wherefore hath the son of Jesse not come in, either yesterday or to-day, unto the food?'

²⁸ And Jonathan answereth Saul, `David hath been earnestly asked of me unto Beth-Lehem,

²⁹ and he saith, Send me away, I pray thee, for a family sacrifice we have in the city, and my brother himself hath given command to me, and now, if I have found grace in thine eyes, let me go away, I pray thee, and see my brethren; therefore he hath not come unto the table of the king.'

³⁰ And the anger of Saul burneth against Jonathan, and he saith to him, `Son of a perverse rebellious woman! have I not known that thou art fixing on the son of Jesse to thy shame, and to the shame of the nakedness of thy mother?

³¹ for all the days that the son of Jesse liveth on the ground thou art not established, thou and thy kingdom; and now, send and bring him unto me, for he `is' a son of death.'

³² And Jonathan answereth Saul his father, and saith unto him, `Why is he put to death? what hath he done?'

³³ And Saul casteth the javelin at him to smite him, and Jonathan knoweth that it hath been determined by his father to put David to death.

³⁴ And Jonathan riseth from the table in the heat of anger, and hath not eaten food on the second day of the new moon, for he hath been grieved for David, for his father put him to shame.

³⁵ And it cometh to pass in the morning, that Jonathan goeth out into the field for the appointment with David, and a little youth `is' with him.

³⁶ And he saith to his youth, `Run, find, I pray thee, the arrows which I am shooting;' the youth is running, and he hath shot the arrow, causing `it' to pass over him.

³⁷ And the youth cometh unto the place of the arrow which Jonathan hath shot, and Jonathan calleth after the youth, and saith, `Is not the arrow beyond thee?'

³⁸ and Jonathan calleth after the youth, `Speed, haste, stand not;' and Jonathan's youth gathereth the arrows, and cometh unto his lord.

³⁹ And the youth hath not known anything, only Jonathan and David knew the word.

⁴⁰ And Jonathan giveth his weapons unto the youth whom he hath, and saith to him, `Go, carry into the city.'

⁴¹ The youth hath gone, and David hath risen from Ezel, at the south, and falleth on his face to the earth, and boweth himself three times, and they kiss one another, and they weep one with another, till David exerted himself;

⁴² and Jonathan saith to David, `Go in peace, in that we have sworn -- we two -- in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah is between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed -- unto the age;' and he riseth and goeth; and Jonathan hath gone in to the city.

---

¹ And David fled from Naioth by Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity, and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeks my life?

² And he said to him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, and not apprise me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.

³ And David swore again and again, and said, Thy father certainly knows that I have found favour in thy sight: and he has thought, Jonathan shall not know this, lest he be grieved; but truly [as] Jehovah liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.

⁴ And Jonathan said to David, What thy soul may say, I will even do it for thee.

⁵ And David said to Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow is new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat; but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.

⁶ If thy father should actually 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.

⁷ If he say thus, It is well, -- thy servant shall have peace; but if he be very wroth, be sure that evil is determined by him.

⁸ Deal kindly then with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee; but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

⁹ And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for, if I knew with certainty that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, would I not tell it thee?

¹⁰ Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

¹¹ And Jonathan said to David, Come and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.

¹² And Jonathan said to David, Jehovah, God of Israel, when I sound my father about this time to-morrow, [or] the next day, and behold, there be good toward David, and I then send not to thee, and apprise thee of it,

¹³ Jehovah do so and much more to Jonathan. Should it please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will apprise thee of it, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace; and Jehovah be with thee, as he has been with my father.

¹⁴ And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of Jehovah, that I die not,

¹⁵ but thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever, no, not when Jehovah cuts off the enemies of David, every one from the face of the earth.

¹⁶ And Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of David, [saying,] Let Jehovah even require [it] at the hand of David's enemies!

¹⁷ And Jonathan caused David to swear again, by the love he had for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

¹⁸ And Jonathan said to him, To-morrow is the new moon; and thou wilt be missed, for thy seat will be empty;

¹⁹ but on the third day thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself on the day of the business, and abide by the stone Ezel.

²⁰ And I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.

²¹ And behold, I will send the 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, for there is peace for thee, and it is nothing; [as] Jehovah liveth.

²² But if I say thus to the youth: Behold, the arrows are beyond thee, -- go thy way; for Jehovah sends thee away.

²³ And as to the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between me and thee for ever.

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.

---

¹ David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity?" and "What is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?"

² He said to him, "Far from it; you shall not die: behold, my father does nothing either great or small, but that he discloses it to me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so."

³ David swore moreover, and said, Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, Don't let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.

⁴ Then said Jonathan to David, Whatever your soul desires, I will even do it for you.

⁵ David said to Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field to the third day at evening.

⁶ If your father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.

⁷ If he says, 'It is well;' your servant shall have peace: but if he be angry, then know that evil is determined by him.

⁸ Therefore deal kindly with your servant; for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you: but if there be in me iniquity, kill me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?

⁹ Jonathan said, Far be it from you; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come on you, then wouldn't I tell you that?

¹⁰ Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance your father answer you roughly?

¹¹ Jonathan said to David, Come, and let us go out into the field. They went out both of them into the field.

¹² Jonathan said to David, Yahweh, the God of Israel, [be witness]: when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?

¹³ Yahweh do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don't disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in peace: and Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.

¹⁴ You shall not only while yet I live show me the loving kindness of Yahweh, that I not die;

¹⁵ but also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when Yahweh has cut off the enemies of David everyone from the surface of the earth.

¹⁶ So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, [saying], Yahweh will require it at the hand of David's enemies.

¹⁷ Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

¹⁸ Then Jonathan said to him, Tomorrow is the new moon: and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

¹⁹ When you have stayed three days, you shall go down quickly, and come to the place where you did hide yourself when the business was in hand, and shall remain by the stone Ezel.

²⁰ I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.

²¹ Behold, I will send the boy, [saying], Go, find the arrows. If I tell the boy, Behold, the arrows are on this side of you; take them, and come; for there is peace to you and no hurt, as Yahweh lives.

²² But if I say thus to the boy, Behold, the arrows are beyond you; go your way; for Yahweh has sent you away.

²³ As touching the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, Yahweh is between you and me forever.

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

²⁵ The king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul's side: but David's place was empty.

²⁶ Nevertheless Saul didn't say anything that day: for he thought, Something has happened to him. He is not clean. Surely he is not clean.

²⁷ It happened on the next day after the new moon, [which was] the second [day], that David's place was empty: and Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why doesn't the son of Jesse come to meat, neither yesterday, nor today?

²⁸ Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:

²⁹ and he said, Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he has commanded me [to be there]: and now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away, I pray you, and see my brothers. Therefore he is not come to the king's table.

³⁰ Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don't I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?

³¹ For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.

³² Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?"

³³ Saul cast his spear at him to strike him. By this Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.

³⁴ So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.

³⁵ It happened in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy with him.

³⁶ He said to his boy, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.

³⁷ When the boy was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the boy, and said, Isn't the arrow beyond you?

³⁸ Jonathan cried after the boy, Go fast! Hurry! Don't delay! Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

³⁹ But the boy didn't know anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

⁴⁰ Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy, and said to him, Go, carry them to the city.

⁴¹ As soon as the boy was gone, David arose out of [a place] toward 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 Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of Yahweh, saying, Yahweh shall be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed, forever. He arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

---

¹ And David went in flight from Naioth in Ramah and came to Jonathan and said, What have I done? What is my crime and my sin against your father that he is attempting to take my life?

² And he said to him, Far be the thought: you will not be put to death: see, my father does nothing, great or small, without giving me word of it: would he keep this secret from me? It is not so.

³ But David took his oath again and said, Your father sees that I am dear to you; so he says to himself, Let Jonathan have no idea of this, for it will be a grief to him; but as the Lord is living, and as your soul is living, there is only a step between me and death.

⁴ Then Jonathan said to David, Whatever your desire is, I will do it for you.

⁵ And David said to Jonathan, Tomorrow is the new moon, and I will not be seated with the king at his table: but let me go to a safe place in the country till the evening.

⁶ And if your father takes note of the fact that I am away, say, David made a request to me for himself that he might go to Beth-lehem, to his town: for it is the time when his family make their offering year by year.

⁷ If he says, It is well, your servant will be at peace: but if he is angry, then it will be clear to you that he has an evil purpose in mind against me.

⁸ So, then, be kind to your servant; for you have been united with your servant in an agreement made before the Lord: but if there is any wrongdoing in me, put me to death yourself; why take me to your father?

⁹ And Jonathan said, Do not have such a thought: for if I saw that my father was designing evil against you, would I not give you word of it?

¹⁰ Then David said to Jonathan, Who will give me word if your father gives you a rough answer?

¹¹ And Jonathan said to David, Come, let us go out into the country. And the two of them went out together into the open country.

¹² And Jonathan said to David, May the Lord, the God of Israel, be witness; when I have had a chance of talking to my father, about this time tomorrow, if his feelings to David are good, will I not send and give you the news?

¹³ May the Lord's punishment be on Jonathan, if it is my father's pleasure to do you evil and I do not give you word of it and send you away so that you may go in peace: and may the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father.

¹⁴ And may you, while I am still living, O may you be kind to me, as the Lord is kind, and keep me from death!

¹⁵ And let not your mercy ever be cut off from my family, even when the Lord has sent destruction on all David's haters, cutting them off from the face of the earth.

¹⁶ And if it comes about that the name of Jonathan is cut off from the family of David, the Lord will make David responsible.

¹⁷ And Jonathan again took an oath to David, because of his love for him: for David was as dear to him as his very soul.

¹⁸ Then Jonathan said to him, Tomorrow is the new moon: and it will be seen that you are not present, for there will be no one in your seat.

¹⁹ And on the third day it will be specially noted, and you will go to the place where you took cover when the other business was in hand, waiting by the hill over there.

²⁰ And on the third day I will send arrows from my bow against its side as if at a mark.

²¹ And I will send my boy to have a look for the arrow. And if I say to him, See, the arrow is on this side of you; take it up! then you may come; for there is peace for you and no evil, by the living Lord.

²² But if I say to the boy, See, the arrow has gone past you: then go on your way, for the Lord has sent you away.

²³ As for what you and I were talking of, the Lord is between you and me for ever.

²⁴ So David went to a secret place in the country: and when the new moon came, the king took his place at the feast.

²⁵ And the king took his seat, as at other times, by the wall: and Jonathan was in front, and Abner was seated by Saul's side, but there was no one in David's seat.

²⁶ But Saul said nothing that day, for his thought was, Something has taken place making him unclean; it is clear that he is not clean.

²⁷ And on the day after the new moon, that is, the second day, there was still no one in David's seat: and Saul said to his son Jonathan, Why has the son of Jesse not come to the feast yesterday or today?

²⁸ And answering Saul, Jonathan said, He made a request to me that he might go to Beth-lehem,

²⁹ Saying, Our family is making an offering in the town, and my brothers have given me orders to be there: so now, if I have grace in your eyes, let me go away and see my brothers. This is why he has not come to the king's table.

³⁰ Then Saul was moved to wrath against Jonathan, and he said to him, You son of an evil and uncontrolled woman, have I not seen how you have given your love to the son of Jesse, to your shame and the shame of your mother?

³¹ For while the son of Jesse is living on the earth, your position is unsafe and your kingdom is in danger. So make him come here to me, for it is certainly right for him to be put to death.

³² And Jonathan, answering his father Saul, said to him, Why is he to be put to death? What has he done?

³³ And Saul, pointing his spear at him, made an attempt to give him a wound: from which it was clear to Jonathan that his father's purpose was to put David to death.

³⁴ So Jonathan got up from the table, burning with wrath, and took no part in the feast the second day of the month, being full of grief for David because his father had put shame on him.

³⁵ Now in the morning, Jonathan went out into the fields at the time he had said to David, and he had a little boy with him.

³⁶ And he said to the boy, Go and get the arrow I let loose from my bow. And while the boy was running, he sent an arrow past him.

³⁷ And when the boy came to the place where the arrow was, Jonathan, crying out after the boy, said, Has it not gone past you?

³⁸ And Jonathan went on crying out after the boy, Be quick, do not keep waiting about, go quickly. And Jonathan's boy got the arrow and came back to his master.

³⁹ But the boy had no idea what was going on; only Jonathan and David had knowledge of it.

⁴⁰ And Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy, and said to him, Take these and go back to the town.

⁴¹ And when the boy had gone, David came from his secret place by the hill, and falling to the earth went down on his face three times: and they gave one another a kiss, weeping together, till David's grief was the greater.

⁴² And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, for we two have taken an oath, in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord will be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed for ever. Then David went away, and Jonathan went into the town.