NASB — 1 Samuel 20 — KJV

David and Jonathan Covenant

1 Then David° fled° from Naioth° in Ramah°, and came° and asaid° Ito Jonathan°, “What° have I done°? What° is my iniquity°? And what° is my sin° before° your father°, that he is seeking° my life°?” 2 He said° to him, “Far° from it, you shall not die°. Behold°, my father° does° nothing°° either great° or° small° Iwithout° disclosing° it to me. So why° should my father° hide° this° thing° from me? It is not so°!” 3 Yet David° avowed° again°, Isaying°, “Your father° knows° well° that I have found° favor° in your sight°, and he has said°, ‘Do not let Jonathan° know° this°, or° he will be grieved°.’ But truly° bas the LORD° lives° and as your soul° lives°, there is IIhardly a step° between° me and death°.” 4 Then Jonathan° said° to David°, “Whatever° Iyou say°, I will do° for you.” 5 So David° said° to Jonathan°, “Behold°, tomorrow° is athe new° moon°, and I ought bto sit° down° to eat° with the king°. But let° me go°, cthat I may hide° myself in the field° until° the third° evening°. 6 If° your father° misses° me at all°, then say°, ‘David° earnestly° asked° [leave] of me to run° to aBethlehem° his city°, because° it is bthe yearly° sacrifice° there° for the whole° family°.’ 7 If° he Isays°, ‘It is good°,’ your servant° [will be] safe°; but if° he is very° angry°, aknow° that he has decided° on evil°. 8 Therefore deal° kindly° with your servant°, for ayou have brought° your servant° into a covenant° of the LORD° with you. But bif° there° is iniquity° in me, put° me to death° yourself°; for why° then° should you bring° me to your father°?” 9 Jonathan° said°, “Far° be it from you! For if° I should indeed° learn° that evil° has been decided° by my father° to come° upon you, then would I not tell° you about it?” 10 Then David° said° to Jonathan°, “Who° will tell° me Iif°° your father° answers° you harshly°?” 11 Jonathan° said° to David°, “Come°, and let us go° out into the field°.” So both° of them went° out to the field°.

[1] ILit before a1S 24:9
[2] ILit and he does not uncover my ear
[3] ILit and said IILit about aDt 6:13 b1S 25:26; 2K 2:6
[4] ILit your soul says
[5] aNu 10:10; 28:11-15; Am 8:5 b1S 20:24, 27 c1S 19:2
[6] a1S 17:58 bDt 12:5; 1S 9:12
[7] ILit says thus a1S 25:17
[8] a1S 18:3; 23:18 b2S 14:32
[10] ILit or what

12 ¶ Then Jonathan° said° to David°, “The LORD°, the God° of Israel°, [be witness]! When° I have sounded° out my father° about this time° tomorrow°, [or] the third° day, behold°, if there is good° [feeling] toward° David°, shall I not then° send° to you and Imake° it known°° to you? 13 If° it please° my father° [to do] you harm°, amay the LORD° do° so° to Jonathan° and more° also°, if I do not Imake° it known°° to you and send° you away°, that you may go° in safety°. And bmay the LORD° be with you as He has been° with my father°. 14 If° I am still° alive°, will you not show° me the lovingkindness° of the LORD°, that I may not die°? 15 aYou shall not cut° off° your lovingkindness° from my house° forever°°, not even when the LORD° cuts° off° every° one° of the enemies° of David° from the face° of the earth°.” 16 So Jonathan° made° a [covenant] with the house° of David°, [saying], “aMay the LORD° require° [it] at the hands° of David’s° enemies°.” 17 Jonathan° made David° vow° again° because of his love° for him, because° ahe loved° him as he loved° his own life°.

[12] ILit uncover your ear
[13] ILit uncover your ear aRu 1:17; 1S 3:17 bJsh 1:5; 1S 17:37; 18:12; 1Ch 22:11, 16
[15] a2S 9:1, 3
[16] aDt 23:21; 1S 25:22
[17] a1S 18:1

18 ¶ Then Jonathan° said° to him, “aTomorrow° is the new° moon°, and you will be missed° because° your seat° will be empty°. 19 When you have stayed° for three° days°, you shall go° down° quickly° and come° to the place° where°° you hid° yourself on that eventful° day°, and you shall remain° by the stone° Ezel°. 20 I will shoot° three° arrows° to the side°, as though I shot° at a target°. 21 And behold°, I will send° the lad°, [saying], ‘Go°, find° the arrows°.’ If° I specifically° say° to the lad°, ‘Behold°, the arrows° are on this° side° of you, get° them,’ then come°; for there is safety° for you and Ino° harm°, as the LORD° lives°. 22 But if° I Isay° to the youth°, ‘aBehold°, the arrows° are beyond°° you,’ go°, for the LORD° has sent° you away°. 23 aAs for the Iagreement° of which° you and I have spoken°, behold°, bthe LORD° is between° you and me forever°°.”

[18] a1S 20:5, 25
[21] ILit there is nothing
[22] ILit say thus a1S 20:37
[23] ILit word a1S 20:14, 15 bGn 31:49, 53; 1S 20:42

24 ¶ So David° hid° in the field°; and when the new° moon° came°, the king° sat° down° to eat° food°. 25 The king° sat° on his seat° as usual°, the seat° by the wall°; then Jonathan° rose° up and Abner° sat° down° by Saul’s° side°, but aDavid’s° place° was empty°. 26 Nevertheless Saul° did not speak° anything° that day°, for he thought°, “It is an accident°, ahe is not clean°, surely° [he is] not clean°.” 27 It came° about the next° day°, the second° [day] of the new° moon°, that David’s° place° was empty°; so Saul° said° to Jonathan° his son°, “Why° has the son° of Jesse° not come° to the meal°, either° yesterday° or° today°?” 28 Jonathan° then answered° Saul°, “aDavid° earnestly° asked° leave° of me [to go] to Bethlehem°, 29 for he said°, ‘Please° Ilet° me go°, since° our family° has a sacrifice° in the city°, and my brother° has commanded° me to attend. And now°, if° I have found° favor° in your sight°, please° let me get° away° that I may see° my brothers°.’ For this° reason°° he has not come° to the king’s° table°.”

[25] a1S 20:18
[26] aLv 7:20, 21; 15:5; 1S 16:5
[28] a1S 20:6
[29] ILit send me away

Saul Is Angry with Jonathan

30 ¶ Then Saul’s° anger° burned° against Jonathan° and he said° to him, “You son° of a perverse°, rebellious° woman! Do I not know° that you are choosing° the son° of Jesse° to your own shame° and to the shame° of your mother’s° nakedness°? 31 For Ias long°° as the son° of Jesse° lives° on the earth°, neither° you nor° your kingdom° will be established°. Therefore now°, send° and bring° him to me, for ahe IImust° surely° die°.” 32 But Jonathan° answered° Saul° his father° and said° to him, “aWhy° should he be put° to death°? What° has he done°?” 33 Then aSaul° hurled° his spear° at him to strike° him down°; bso Jonathan° knew° that his father° had decided° to put° David° to death°. 34 Then Jonathan° arose° from the table° in fierce° anger°, and did not eat° food° on the second° day° of the new° moon°, for he was grieved° over° David° because° his father° had dishonored° him.

[31] ILit all the days which IILit is a son of death a2S 12:5
[32] aGn 31:36; 1S 19:5; Pv 31:9; Mt 27:23
[33] a1S 18:11; 19:10 b1S 20:7

35 ¶ Now it came° about in the morning° that Jonathan° went° out into the field° for the appointment° with David°, and a little° lad° [was] with him. 36 He said° to his lad°, “aRun°, find° now° the arrows° which° I am about to shoot°.” As the lad° was running°, he shot° Ian arrow° past° him. 37 When the lad° reached° the place° of the arrow° which° Jonathan° had shot°, Jonathan° called° after° the lad° and said°, “aIs not the arrow° beyond°° you?” 38 And Jonathan° called° after° the lad°, “Hurry°, be quick°, do not stay°!” And Jonathan’s° lad° picked° up the arrow° and came° to his master°. 39 But the lad° was not aware° of anything°; only° Jonathan° and David° knew° about the matter°. 40 Then Jonathan° gave° his weapons° to his lad° and said° to him, “Go°, bring° [them] to the city°.” 41 When the lad° was gone°, David° rose° from the south° side° and fell° on his face° to the ground°, and abowed° three° times°. And they kissed° each° other° and wept° together°°, but bDavid° [wept] the more°. 42 Jonathan° said° to David°, “aGo° in safety°, inasmuch° as we have sworn° to each° other° in the name° of the LORD°, saying°, ‘bThe LORD° will be between° me and you, and between° my Idescendants° and your Idescendants° forever°°.’” IIThen he rose° and departed°, while Jonathan° went° into the city°.

[36] ILit the a1S 20:20, 21
[37] a1S 20:22
[41] aGn 42:6 b1S 18:3
[42] ILit seed IICh 21:1 in Heb a1S 20:22 b1S 20:15, 16, 23


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David consulteth with Jonathan for his safety.

1 ¶ And Davidº fledºª from Naiothº² in Ramah,º and cameºª and saidºª beforeº Jonathan,º What² have I done?ºª what² [is] mine iniquity?º and what² [is] my sinº beforeº thy father,º that² he seekethºª² my life?º 2 And he saidºª unto him, God forbid;º thou shalt not² die:ºª behold,² my fatherº will doºªªª nothingº² either greatº or² small,º but that he will shewºª¹² it² me:² and why² should my fatherº hideºª² this² thingº from² me? it² [is] not² [so]. 3 And Davidº swareºª moreover,² and said,ºª Thy fatherº certainly¹ª knowethºª that² I have foundºª graceº in thine eyes;º and he saith,ºª Let not² Jonathanº knowºª this,² lest² he be grieved:ºª but trulyº [as] the LORDº liveth,º and [as] thy soulº liveth,º [there² is] but a stepº between² me and death.º 4 Then saidºª Jonathanº unto² David,º Whatsoever² thy soulº desireth,ºª I will even doºª [it] for thee. 5 And Davidº saidºª unto² Jonathan,º Behold,² to morrowº [is] the new moon,º and I² should not fail¹ª to sitºª with² the kingº at meat:ºª but let me go,ºª that I may hide¹ª myself² in the fieldº unto² the thirdº [day] at even.º 6 If² thy fatherº at all¹ª missºª me, then say,ºª Davidº earnestly¹ª askedºª [leave] of² me that he might runºª to Bethlehemº his city:º for² [there is] a yearlyº sacrificeº there² for all² the family.º 7 If² he sayºª thus,² [It is] well;º thy servantº shall have peace:º but if² he be very¹ª wroth,ºª [then] be sureºª that² evilº is determinedºª by²² him. 8 Therefore thou shalt dealºª kindlyº with² thy servant;º for² thou hast broughtºª² thy servantº into a covenantº of the LORDº with² thee: notwithstanding, if² there beº in me iniquity,º slayºª me thyself;² for² why² shouldest thou bringºª me to thy father?º 9 And Jonathanº said,ºª Far be it² from thee:¹ for² if² I knew¹ª certainlyºª that² evilº were determinedºª by²² my fatherº to comeºª upon² thee, then would not² I tellºª it thee? 10 Then saidºª Davidº to² Jonathan,º Who² shall tellºª me? or² what² [if] thy fatherº answerºª thee roughly?º

[1] 1S 12:3; 19:19; 23:26; 24:11, 17; Ps 7:3; 18:20; 124:6; 2Co 1:12; 2P 2:9; 1Jn 3:21.
[2] Gn 44:7; Jsh 22:29; 24:16; 1S 9:15; 14:45; 20:12; Ps 40:6; Is 50:5; Lk 20:16; Jn 15:15; 17:8.
[3] Dt 6:13; 28:66; 1S 1:26; 17:55; 25:26; 27:1; 2S 15:21; 2K 2:2, 4, 6; Ps 116:3; Jr 4:2; 38:16; 1Co 15:30; 2Co 1:9; He 6:16.
[5] Nu 10:10; 28:11; 1S 19:2; 20:6, 19; 2K 4:23; Ps 55:12; 81:3; Pv 22:3; Jn 8:59; Ac 17:14; Col 2:16.
[6] 1S 9:12; 16:2; 17:58; Jn 7:42.
[7] Dt 1:23; 1S 20:9; 25:17; 2S 17:4; Es 7:7.
[8] Gn 24:49; 47:29; Jsh 2:14; 22:22; Ru 1:8; 1S 18:3; 20:16; 23:18; 2S 14:32; 1Ch 12:17; Ps 7:4; 116:11; Pv 3:3; Ac 25:11.
[9] 1S 19:2; 20:38, 42.
[10] Gn 42:7, 30; 1S 20:30; 25:10, 14, 17; 1K 12:13; Pv 18:23.

Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath.

11 ¶ And Jonathanº saidºª unto² David,º Come,¹ª² and let us go outºª into the field.º And they went outºª bothº of them into the field.º 12 And Jonathanº saidºª unto² David,º O LORDº Godº of Israel,º when² I have soundedºª² my fatherº about to morrowº any time,º [or] the thirdº [day], and, behold,² [if there be] good¹ª² toward² David,º and I then² sendºª not² unto² thee, and shew¹ª¹ it thee;²²² 13 The LORDº doºª soº and much² moreºª to Jonathan:º but if² it pleaseºª² my fatherº [to do] thee² evil,º then I will shew¹ª¹ it thee,²²² and send thee away,ºª that thou mayest goºª in peace:º and the LORDº be² with² thee, as² he hath been² with² my father.º 14 And thou shalt not² only while² yet¹² I liveº shewºª² me the kindnessº of the LORD,º that I dieºª not:² 15 But [also] thou shalt not² cut offºª² thy kindnessº from²² my houseº for¹ ever:º² no, not² when the LORDº hath cut offºª² the enemiesºª of Davidº every oneº from the faceº²² of the earth.º 16 So Jonathanº madeºª [a covenant] with² the houseº of David,º [saying], Let the LORDº even requireºª [it] at the handº² of David'sº enemies.ºª 17 And Jonathanº caused² Davidº to swearºª again,ºª because he lovedº him: for² he lovedºª him as he lovedº his own soul.º

[12] Jsh 22:22; 1S 20:2; Jb 31:4; Ps 17:3; 139:1; Pv 20:5; 25:2.
[13] Jsh 1:5; Ru 1:17; 1S 3:17; 10:7; 11:6; 14:47; 17:37; 25:22; 2S 3:35; 7:15; 19:13; 1K 19:2; 20:10; 1Ch 22:11, 16; Mt 28:20; Php 4:9.
[14] 2S 9:3; Ep 5:1.
[15] 1S 24:21; 2S 9:1; 21:7.
[16] Gn 15:18; 1S 18:3; 25:22; 31:2; 2S 4:7; 21:8.
[17] Dt 13:6; 1S 18:1, 3; 2S 1:26; Pv 18:24.

Jonathan's token to David,

18 Then Jonathanº saidºª to David,¹ To morrowº [is] the new moon:º and thou shalt be missed,ºª because² thy seatº will be empty.ºª 19 And [when] thou hast stayed three days,ºª [then] thou shalt go downºª quickly,º and comeºª to² the placeº where² thou didst hide¹ª thyself² whenº² the businessº was [in hand], and shalt remainºª byº the stoneº Ezel.º 20 And I² will shootºª threeº arrowsº on the sideº [thereof], as though I shotºª at a mark.º 21 And, behold,² I will sendºª² a lad,º [saying], Go,¹ª² find outºª² the arrows.º If² I expressly¹ª sayºª unto the lad,º Behold,² the arrowsº [are] on this side²² of thee, takeºª them; then comeºª thou: for² [there is] peaceº to thee, and no² hurt;º [as] the LORDº liveth.º 22 But if² I sayºª thus² unto the young man,º Behold,² the arrowsº [are] beyondº² thee; go thy way:¹ª² for² the LORDº hath sent thee away.ºª 23 And [as touching] the matterº which² thou² and I² have spokenºª of, behold,² the LORDº [be] between² thee and me for¹ ever.º²

[18] 1S 20:5, 18.
[19] 1S 19:2; 20:5.
[21] Jr 4:2; 5:2; 12:16; Am 8:14.
[23] Gn 16:5; 31:50; 1S 20:14, 42.

Saul, missing David, seeketh to kill Jonathan.

24 ¶ So Davidº hid¹ª himself² in the field:º and when the new moonº was come,² the kingº sat him downºª to eatºª meat.º 25 And the kingº satºª upon² his seat,º as at other times,º [even] upon² a seatº by the wall:º and Jonathanº arose,ºª and Abnerº satºª by Saul'sº side,º² and David'sº placeº was empty.ºª 26 Nevertheless Saulº spakeºª not² any thingº that² day:º for² he thought,ºª Something hath befallenº him, he² [is] notº clean;º surely² he [is] not² clean.º 27 And it came to pass² on the morrow,º² [which was] the secondº [day] of the month,º that David'sº placeº was empty:ºª and Saulº saidºª unto² Jonathanº his son,º Wherefore² comethºª not² the sonº of Jesseº to² meat,º neither² yesterday,º nor² to day?º 28 And Jonathanº answeredºª² Saul,º Davidº earnestly¹ª askedºª [leave] of²² me¹ [to go] to² Bethlehem:º 29 And he said,ºª Let me go,ºª I pray thee;² for² our familyº hath a sacrificeº in the city;º and my brother,º he² hath commandedºª me [to be there]: and now,² if² I have foundºª favourº in thine eyes,º let me get away,ºª I pray thee,² and seeºª² my brethren.º Therefore²² he comethºª not² unto² the king'sº table.º 30 Then Saul'sº angerº was kindledºª against Jonathan,º and he saidºª unto him, Thou sonº of the perverseºª rebelliousº [woman], do not² I knowºª that² thou² hast chosenºª the sonº of Jesseº to thine own confusion,º and unto the confusionº of thy mother'sº nakedness?º 31 For² as long²² as¹² the sonº of Jesseº liveth¹ª² upon² the ground,º thou² shalt not² be established,ºª nor thy kingdom.º Wherefore now² sendºª and fetchºª² him unto² me, for² he² shall surely die.ºº 32 And Jonathanº answeredºª² Saulº his father,º and saidºª unto² him, Wherefore² shall he be slain?ºª what² hath he done?ºª 33 And Saulº castºª² a javelinº at² him to smiteºª him: whereby Jonathanº knewºª that² it² was determined¹² of²² his fatherº to slayºª² David.º 34 So Jonathanº aroseºª from²² the tableº in fierceº anger,º and did eatºª no² meatº the secondº dayº of the month:º for² he was grievedºª for² David,º because² his fatherº had done him shame.ºª

[24] Ps 50:16; Pv 4:17; 15:17; 17:1; 21:3, 27; Is 1:11; Zc 7:6; Jn 18:28.
[25] Jg 16:20.
[26] Lv 7:21; 11:24, 27, 31, 40; 15:5, 16, 19; Nu 19:16.
[27] 1S 18:11; 19:9, 15; 22:7, 13; 25:10; Is 11:1; Mt 13:55; 1P 2:4.
[28] 1S 20:6.
[29] 1S 17:28.
[30] Jb 5:2; Pv 14:29; 15:2; 19:12, 19; 21:24; 25:28; 27:3; Mt 5:22; Ep 4:31; 6:4; Jm 1:19.
[31] 1S 19:6, 11; 20:8; 26:16; 2S 19:28; Ps 79:11.
[32] 1S 18:11; 19:5, 10; 20:7; Pv 22:24; 24:11; 31:8; Ec 7:9; 9:3; Jr 17:9; Mt 27:23; Lk 23:22; Jn 7:51.
[34] Ec 7:20; Mk 3:5; Ep 4:26.

Jonathan lovingly taketh his leave of David.

35 ¶ And it came to pass² in the morning,º that Jonathanº went outºª into the fieldº at the time appointedº with David,º and a littleº ladº with² him. 36 And he saidºª unto his lad,º Run,ºª find outºª now²² the arrowsº which² I² shoot.ºª [And] as the ladº ran,ºª he² shotºª an arrowº beyondºª him. 37 And when the ladº was comeºª to² the placeº of the arrowº which² Jonathanº had shot,ºª Jonathanº criedºª afterº the lad,º and said,ºª [Is] not² the arrowº beyondº² thee? 38 And Jonathanº criedºª afterº the lad,º Make speed,¹² haste,¹ª² stayºª not.² And Jonathan'sº ladº gathered upºª² the arrows,º¹ª and cameºª to² his master.º 39 But the ladº knewºª not² any thing:º only² Jonathanº and Davidº knewºª² the matter.º 40 And Jonathanº gaveºª² his artilleryº unto² his² lad,º and saidºª unto him, Go,¹ª² carryºª [them] to the city.º

[35] 1S 20:19; 2S 20:5.
[36] 1S 20:20, 21.
[38] Ps 55:6; Pv 6:4; Mt 24:16; Mk 13:14; Lk 17:31.

41 ¶ [And] as soon as the ladº was gone,ºª Davidº aroseºª out of [a place] towardº² the south,º and fellºª on his faceº to the ground,º and bowed¹ª himself² threeº times:º and they kissedºª oneº² another,º and weptºª oneº with² another,º until² Davidº exceeded.ºª 42 And Jonathanº saidºª to David,º Go¹ª² in peace,º forasmuch as² we have swornºª bothº of us² in the nameº of the LORD,º saying,ºª The LORDº be² between² me and thee, and between² my seedº and thy seedº for¹ ever.º² And he aroseºª and departed:¹ª² and Jonathanº wentºª into the city.º

[41] Gn 29:11, 13; 43:28; 45:15; 1S 10:1; 18:3; 25:23; 2S 1:26; 9:6; 19:39; Ac 20:37.
[42] Nu 6:26; 1S 1:17; 20:22, 23; 23:18; Lk 7:50; Ac 16:36.


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