1 Samuel 20
20
David and Jonathan’s Covenant
1David fled from Naioth in Ramah and he came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my #20:1 Or iniquity.guilt? What is my sin before (against) your father, that he is seeking my life?” 2Jonathan said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. My father does nothing #20:2 Lit great or small.important or insignificant without telling me. So why would he hide this thing from me? It is not so!” 3But David vowed again, saying “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be worried.’ But truly as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is hardly a step between me and death.” 4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” 5David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the New Moon [observance], and I should sit at the table to eat [the sacrificial meal] with the king; but let me go, so that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening. 6If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked permission from me to go to Bethlehem, his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for the entire family.’ 7If he says, ‘All right,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, then be certain that he has decided on evil. 8Therefore show kindness to your servant, because you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But if there is iniquity (guilt) in me, kill me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father [to be killed]?” 9Jonathan said, “Far be it from [happening to] you! In fact, if I indeed learn that my father has decided to harm you, would I not tell you about it?” 10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” 11Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field [to talk].” So they went out to the field.
12Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, is my witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he has a good feeling toward #20:12 Lit David.you, shall I not then send word to you and make it known to you? 13But if it pleases my father to do you harm, may the Lord do so to Jonathan, and more if I do not let you know about it and send you away, so that you may go in #20:13 Lit shalom.safety. And #20:13 With this statement Jonathan acknowledges that David has been anointed king.may the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. 14If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness and faithfulness of the Lord, #20:14 To secure his throne a new king would usually kill anyone who was a potential rival for the throne. Jonathan is asking assurance that he will not be assassinated after David becomes king.so that I will not die? 15You shall never cut off your lovingkindness and faithfulness from my house, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16So Jonathan made a covenant with the #20:16 This covenant was binding not only on David and Jonathan, but also on their descendants.house of David. [#20:16 This may have been the additional vow mentioned in v 17.He added,] “May #20:16 Jonathan was aligning himself with David against all of David’s enemies, including Saul.the Lord require it at the hands of David’s enemies. [that is, hold them accountable for any harm they inflict on David].” 17Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, for Jonathan loved him as himself.
18Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon [festival], and you will be missed because your seat will be empty. 19When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself #20:19 Lit on the day of the doing.on that eventful day [when my father tried to kill you], and shall stay by the stone Ezel. 20I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a target. 21And I will send a boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I specifically say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,’ then come [back to my father’s table]; for it is #20:21 Lit shalom.safe for you and there is #20:21 Lit nothing.no danger, as the Lord lives. 22But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the Lord has sent you away. 23As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever [making sure that we each keep our word].”
24So David hid in the field; and when the New Moon [festival] came, the king sat down to eat food. 25The king sat on his seat as on previous occasions, on his seat by the wall; then Jonathan stood up, and Abner [his commander] sat down by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty. 26Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “It is an incident [of some kind] and #20:26 Saul assumed that David had come into contact with a source of ritual pollution, such as a corpse, and was for that reason temporarily disqualified from participating in the New Moon Festival.he is not [ceremonially] clean—surely he is unclean.” 27But on the next day, the second day of the new moon, David’s place was empty [again]; and Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?” 28Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. 29He said, ‘Please let me go because our family is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to attend. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me slip away so that I may see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
Saul Is Angry with Jonathan
30Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a #20:30 The vulgar language of this Hebrew idiom demeaned Jonathan, not his mother, and Saul implied that she was ashamed of giving birth to him.wayward, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse [over me] to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you [as heir to the throne] nor your kingdom will be established. So now, send [someone] and bring him to me, for he #20:31 Lit is a son of death.must die.” 32Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why must he be put to death? What has he done?” 33Then Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him down, so Jonathan knew [without any doubt] that his father had decided to put David to death. 34Then Jonathan stood up from the table in the heat of anger, and ate no food on that second day of the new moon (month), for he grieved and worried about David because his father had dishonored him.
35In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the meeting with David, and a young boy was with him. 36And he said to his boy, “Run, please find the arrows which I am about to shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow past him. 37When the boy came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called to him, “Is the arrow not beyond you?” 38And Jonathan called out after the boy, “Hurry, be quick, do not stay!” So Jonathan’s boy picked up the arrow and came back to his master. 39But the boy was not aware of anything; only Jonathan and David knew about the matter. 40Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go, take them to the city.” 41As soon as the boy was gone, David got up from the south side [beside the mound of stones] and fell on his face to the ground [in submission and respect], and bowed three times. Then they kissed one another and wept together, but David wept more. 42Jonathan told David, “Go #20:42 Lit in shalom.in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and yours forever.’ ” #20:42 In Hebrew, this is v 1 of the next chapter making the versification different throughout ch 21.Then he stood and left, while Jonathan went into the city.
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1 Samuel 20
20
Jonathan Supports David over Saul
1Then David fled from Naioth 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 is trying to kill me?#Literally “seeking my life” 2And he said to him, “Far from it! You will not die! Look, my father does not do#The Masoretic Hebrew text (Kethib) reads “he does to/for him”; the translation follows the reading tradition (Qere) which has “does not do” anything large or small unless he reveals it to me.#Literally “a large thing or a small thing and he does not reveal to my ear” Why should my father hide this thing or anything from me?” 3Then David took an oath#Literally “swore” again and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thought, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he worry.’ But as Yahweh lives#Literally “the life of Yahweh” and as your soul lives,#Literally “the life of your soul” surely there is merely a step between me and death!” 4Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you wish,#Literally “What your soul says” I will do for you.” 5David said to Jonathan, “Look, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should certainly sit with the king to eat. You must send me away so that I can hide myself in the field until the third evening. 6If your father misses me at all, then you must say, ‘David earnestly asked from me to run to Bethlehem his city, for the yearly sacrifice#Literally “the sacrifice of the days” is there for all the clan.’ 7If he says ‘Good,’ it will mean peace for your servant; but if he is very angry, know that he has decided to do me harm.#Literally “the evil has been determined from with him” 8So you must show loyal love to your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you. But if there is guilt in me, then kill me yourself! But why should you bring me to your father?” 9Then Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I know for certain that my father decided evil should come upon you,#Literally “the evil is determined from with my father to come over you” would I not have told it to you?” 10Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if what your father answers you is harsh?” 11And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out to the field.” So the two of them went out to the field.
12Then Jonathan said to David, “Yahweh the God of Israel is my witness#The phrase “is my witness” is supplied based on the Syriac version that I will question my father by this time the day after tomorrow.#Literally “as the time tomorrow the third” And look, if he is well disposed toward you,#Literally “if he is good to David” will I not send word to you and disclose it to you?#Literally “I will reveal it to your ear” 13So may Yahweh punish Jonathan and more#Literally “So may Yahweh do to Jonathan and so may he add” if my father decides to do you harm#Literally “the evil over you is regarded as good by my father” and if I fail to disclose it to you#Literally “I will reveal it to your ear” and send word to you that you can go safely. And may Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father. 14And not while I am still alive, will you not show the loyal love of Yahweh with me, that I may not die?#Or perhaps “and if I die, may you not …” 15And do not cut off your loyal love from my family#Literally “my house” forever, not even when Yahweh exterminates#Literally “cuts off” each of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16So Jonathan made a covenant#Literally “cut a covenant” with the house of David, saying, “May Yahweh call the enemies of David to account.”#Literally “seek from the hand of the enemies of David” 17And Jonathan again made David swear an oath, because he loved him; for with the love of his soul he loved him.
18Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, for your seat will stay empty. 19On the third day you must go down quickly and go to the place where you hid yourself on the day all this started#Literally “on the day of the deed” and remain beside the stone Ezel. 20I will shoot three arrows to the side as if I were shooting at a target. 21Then#Literally “And look” I will send word to my servant, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ If I clearly say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you;#Literally “from you and here” bring#Literally “take” it,’ then#Hebrew “and” come, for it means peace for you. And there is no problem, as Yahweh lives.#Literally “the life of Yahweh” 22But if I say this to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’#Literally “from you and beyond” go, for Yahweh has sent you away. 23And as for the matter about which you and I spoke, look, Yahweh is between you and me forever.”
24So David hid himself in the field. When the new moon came,#Literally “And it was the new moon” the king was seated at the feast.#Literally “the king sat at the food to eat” 25The king sat at his seat as before,#Literally “as occurrence at occurrence” the seat by the wall, and Jonathan got up, and Abner sat beside Saul, but David’s place was empty. 26But Saul said nothing on that day, for he thought, “Something happened to him.#Literally “It is incident” He is not ceremonially clean; surely he is not clean.” 27And then#Literally “And it happened” on the next day, the second day of the new moon, that David’s place was empty. So Saul asked Jonathan his son, “Why did the son of Jesse not come either yesterday or today to the feast?” 28Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked permission from me to go up to Bethlehem. 29He said, ‘Send me away, please, for our clan sacrifice is in the city, and my brother commanded#Or “urged” me to be present. So then, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me slip away and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the table of the king.” 30Then Saul became angry#Literally “the nose of Saul became hot” at Jonathan and said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!#Or “bastard of a wayward woman” (HALOT 796) Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31For as long as#Literally “all the days which” the son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established! So then, send and bring him to me, for he will surely die!”#Literally “he is a son of death” 32But Jonathan answered his father Saul and said to him, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33Then Saul hurled his#Hebrew “the” spear at him to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father had decided#Literally “it was complete from with his father” to kill David.
34Jonathan got up from the table enraged,#Literally “with burning of nose” and did not eat on the second day of the new moon because he was upset about David, because his father had disgraced him. 35And then#Literally “And it happened” in the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the appointment with David, and a young boy#Or “young servant” was with him. 36He said to his servant,#Or “boy” “Run, please find the arrows that I am shooting!” The boy#Or “servant” ran, and he shot the arrow to pass over him. 37When the boy came up to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called out after the boy and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?”#Literally “from you and beyond” 38Then Jonathan called out after the boy, “Quick, hurry, do not linger!” And Jonathan’s servant collected the arrows and came to his master. 39But the boy did not know anything about this; only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40Jonathan gave his weapons to his servant and said to him, “Go, bring them to the city.” 41The boy left, and then David got up from the south side,#So Masoretic Hebrew text; LXX reads “from the mound” (of stones) and he fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed each other#Literally “each his friend” and wept together,#Literally “each with his friend” but David wept the most. 42Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn, the two of us, an oath in the name of Yahweh, saying, “Yahweh will be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring forever.”#In the Hebrew Bible, 1 Sam 21 begins here. 1 Samuel 20:42b–21:15 in the English Bible is 21:1–16 in the Hebrew Bible Then he got up and left, and Jonathan went into the city.
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