1 Samuel 20

It’s official: Saul wants to kill David

David and Jonathan’s secret meeting

1David left the Ramah campground where the prophets stayed. He met with Jonathan and asked, “Why is your father trying to kill me? How have I ever hurt him.”

2“Kill you?” Jonathan said. “That’s not possible. If my father were trying to kill you, I’d know about it. He asks me about every decision he makes as king. It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small. So, there’s no way.”

3David said, “But your father knows we’re friends. He hasn’t told you about this because he wants to protect you. He knows it would hurt you. But I promise you, death is on my trail. I’m one step ahead.”

4Jonathan answered, “Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

Looking for Saul’s hot-headed reaction

5David said, “Tomorrow the king will celebrate the New Moon [1] festival, as he does every month. I’m supposed to join him for those meals. But I’m going to skip them this time. I’ll hide in the field for three days. 6If your father asks why I’m not there, tell him this: ‘David asked me if he could go to his home in Bethlehem because this is when his family offers their annual sacrifice.’ 7Then watch his reaction. He might say it’s okay. But if he gets mad about it, that’s the clue he wants me dead. 8I’m asking you to help me with this. We have a bond of friendship because of the sacred covenant [2] we made. But if you think I did something to hurt your father, kill me yourself. Don’t bother taking me to him and forcing him to do it himself.”

9Jonathan said, “Not a chance. If I knew about any kind of plan to hurt you, I’d tell you about it. You know that, right?”

10David said, “How will you get word to me about your father’s reaction?” 11Jonathan said, “Let’s take a walk.” They went out into the field.

12Jonathan told David, “As sure as the LORD is God of Israel, I’ll tell you how my father reacts. If it goes well, and it looks good for you, I’ll get word to you. 13But if I discover my father wants to kill you, may the LORD kill me, too, if I don’t tell you so you can escape. In the meantime, may the LORD be with you, as he used to be with my father.

Another promise between friends

14In the days ahead—if I live to see them—I hope you’ll reflect the LORD’s kindness and shine it in my direction. But let me ask a favor in case I die too soon. 15Never stop loving me or my family—even if we get added to the list of your enemies at a time when the LORD is destroying all your enemies. Protect my family because of our bond and our devotion to each other.”

16So, Jonathan made another sacred covenant with David: “May the LORD give David’s enemies what they deserve.” 17Jonathan asked David to promise they would remain friends, no matter what, because Jonathan loved David more than his own life.

Secret plan to warn David

18Jonathan said, “Tomorrow starts the New Moon festival. People will notice you’re gone because your seat will be empty. 19Day after tomorrow, go hide where you did earlier, by the rock called Ezel. 20I’ll shoot three arrows off to the side, like I’m shooting at a target. 21I’ll have a boy with me to chase arrows. I’ll tell him to go find them. And if I tell him he has gone too far, and he should come back this way, you’ll know it’s safe to come back. I won’t lie to you. As sure as the LORD lives, you can count on it.

22But if I tell him the arrows are ahead of him and he needs to keep going, you’ll need to keep going, too. It will mean the LORD is sending you away. 23As for the promise we made to each other, let’s never break that sacred covenant.” [3] 24David hid in the field that night until the new moon the next day. The king sat down for the meal. 25He sat in his usual place by the wall. Jonathan stood, Abner [4] sat by Saul, but David’s seat remained empty. 26Saul didn’t say anything about David that day. He figured something must have happened to him. Maybe he touched something that made him ritually unclean [5] for the day.

Saul throws a spear at his son

27But David didn’t show up for the meal the next day, either—the day after the new moon. So, Saul asked Jonathan, “Why hasn’t Jesse’s son joined us for the meal? He missed yesterday, too.”

28Jonathan said, “Well, David pleaded with me to let him go to Bethlehem. 29He said, ‘Please let me go to our family’s annual sacrifice in town. My brother told me I had to come. If you’re my friend, let me go see my brothers.’ That’s why he’s not eating with you.”

30Saul exploded his anger all over Jonathan. He screamed, “You back-stabbing son of a b****! [6] Do you have any idea how much you’ve shamed your mother? [7] She gave birth to you. Yet you chose Jesse’s family over ours. 31As long as Jesse’s son lives, your life and your right to rule Israel will be threatened by him. Now give orders to arrest him and bring him to me. He’s going to die.”

32Jonathan said, “Why? What did he do to you?”

33Saul answered with a spear he threw at his son. [8] Now Jonathan knew for sure that his father had decided to kill David.

Goodbye David

34Jonathan jumped up from the table—livid. He ate nothing that day. He was that upset about David and about his father humiliating him.

35The next morning, Jonathan and a young servant boy went out in the field. It’s where he arranged to meet David. 36He told the boy, “I want you to run into the field and pick up the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran into the field, Jonathan shot arrows way over his head. 37When the boy got to the general area where the arrows landed, Jonathan said, “Aren’t the arrows still ahead of you?” 38Jonathan told the boy, “Hurry. You’ve got to get moving.” And the boy did. He brought the arrows back to the master he served.

39The boy didn’t know what was going on. Only Jonathan and David understood that the words were really for David. 40Jonathan handed his bow and arrows to the boy and told him, “Take these back to the city.”

41When the boy was gone, David stood beside the large rock. He bowed three times, then the two kissed each other and cried together. David cried hardest. 42Jonathan told him, “Peace to you, my dear friend. We’ve made a promise to each other and on behalf of our families. May the devotion we have to each other last through the generations to come.” David walked away, Jonathan went back into town.

Footnotes

Intro for 1 Samuel

120:5

Jews in Bible times followed a lunar calendar, with every month starting at the first tiny crescent after the new moon. A new moon is when the moon is hidden behind earth’s shadow for one day. The sun, moon, and earth are aligned, with earth in the middle.

220:8

See 1 Samuel 18:3.