Jonathan Warns David

1 Samuel 20

1 Then David fled from Naioth m in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?" 2 And he said to him, "Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so." 3 But David vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that n I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, o as the Lord lives and p as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death." 4 Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you." 5 David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is q the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, r that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. 6 s If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run t to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly u sacrifice there for all the clan.' 7 If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that v harm is determined by him. 8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, w for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. x But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?" 9 And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I knew that v it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?" 10 Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?" 11 And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field.

12 And Jonathan said to David, "The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness! 1 When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? 13 But should it please my father to do you harm, y the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. z May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father. 14 If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; 15 a and do not cut off 2 your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." 16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, b "May 3 the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies." 17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, c for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan said to him, d "Tomorrow is the new moon, and e you will be missed, because f your seat will be empty. 19 On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap. 4 20 And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21 And behold, I will send the young man, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,' then you are to come, for, g as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. 22 But if I say to the youth, h 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go, for the Lord has sent you away. 23 i And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, j the Lord is between you and me forever."

24 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. 25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, 5 and Abner sat by Saul's side, k but David's place was empty.

26 Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to him. l He is not clean; surely he is not clean." 27 But on m the second day, the day after the new moon, k David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?" 28 Jonathan answered Saul, n "David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, 'Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.' For this reason he has 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, do I not 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, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die." 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, o "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" 33 p But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew q that his father was determined to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan rose 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 disgraced him.

35 In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy. 36 And he said to his boy, "Run and find the arrows that I shoot." As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, r "Is not the arrow beyond you?" 38 And Jonathan called after the boy, "Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!" So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. 39 But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, "Go and carry them to the city." 41 And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap 6 and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. 42 Then Jonathan said to David, s "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, t 'The Lord shall be between me and you, u and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. 7

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:19
    They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord ; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 33:15
    So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:26
    Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as yo...
    2 Kings 2:2
    And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, f...
    2 Kings 2:4
    Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, ...
    2 Kings 2:6
    Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, for...
    2 Kings 4:30
    Then the mother of the child said, "As the Lord...
    Ruth 3:13
    Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will ...
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 1:26
    And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:18
    Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
    Numbers 10:10
    On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.
    Numbers 28:11
    At the beginnings of your months, you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord : two bulls from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish.
  6. Cross References
    1 Samuel 19:2 - 3
    And Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself.
  7. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:18
    Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
  8. Cross References
    1 Samuel 16:4
    Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, "Do you come peaceably?
  9. Cross References
    1 Samuel 9:12
    They answered, "He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.
  10. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:17
    Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.
    Esther 7:7
    And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.
    1 Samuel 20:33
    But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
  11. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:16
    And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies.
    1 Samuel 20:42
    Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
    1 Samuel 18:3
    Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
    1 Samuel 23:18
    And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
    2 Samuel 21:7
    But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
  12. Cross References
    2 Samuel 14:32
    Absalom answered Joab, "Behold, I sent word to you, 'Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask, "Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still." Now therefore let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.'
  13. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:7
    If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him.
  14. Cross References
    Ruth 1:17
    Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.
  15. Cross References
    Joshua 1:5
    No man shall be able to stand before you all th...
    Joshua 1:17
    Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we wi...
    1 Kings 1:37
    As the Lord has been with my lord the king, eve...
    1 Chronicles 22:11
    Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you ...
    1 Chronicles 22:16
    Gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work!...
    1 Samuel 17:37
    And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from...
  16. Cross References
    2 Samuel 9:1
    And David said, "Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?
    2 Samuel 9:3
    And the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God to him?" Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.
    2 Samuel 9:7
    And David said to him, "Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.
    2 Samuel 21:7
    But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:22
    God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.
    Joshua 22:23
    For building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance.
  18. Cross References
    1 Samuel 18:1
    As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
    1 Samuel 18:3
    Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
  19. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:5
    David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening.
  20. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:6
    If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.
  21. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:25
    The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.
    1 Samuel 20:27
    But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?
  22. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:3
    But David vowed again, saying, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.
    Ruth 3:13
    Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.
  23. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:37
    And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?
  24. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:14 - 15
    If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die.
  25. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:42
    Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, 'The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
  26. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:18
    Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
  27. Cross References
    Leviticus 7:21
    And if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether human uncleanness or an unclean beast or any unclean detestable creature, and then eats some flesh from the sacrifice of the Lord 's peace offerings, that person shall be cut off from his people.
    Leviticus 11:24 - 28
    And by these you shall become unclean. Whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening.
    Leviticus 15:1 - 4
    The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying.
  28. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:34
    And Jonathan rose 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 disgraced him.
  29. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:25
    The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.
  30. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:6
    If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.
  31. Cross References
    1 Samuel 19:5
    For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?
  32. Cross References
    1 Samuel 18:11
    And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David evaded him twice.
    1 Samuel 19:10
    And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.
  33. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:7
    If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him.
  34. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:22
    But if I say to the youth, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go, for the Lord has sent you away.
  35. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:13
    But should it please my father to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father.
    1 Samuel 1:17
    Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.
  36. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:23
    And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.
  37. Cross References
    1 Samuel 20:15
    And do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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