Jonathan Helps David Escape

David came to Jonathan in great fear and asked what wrong he had done, because Saul wanted to kill him. Jonathan first found that hard to believe, but David insisted the danger was very near. So Jonathan promised to help in whatever way he could.

David suggested a way to test Saul at the New Moon meal. He would hide in the field until the third day at evening, and Jonathan would watch how Saul reacted to his empty place. David reminded Jonathan of their covenant before the Lord, and Jonathan promised that if Saul truly meant harm, he would warn David and send him away in peace.

Then Jonathan asked David to keep showing faithful kindness to him and to his family in the future. They renewed their covenant because Jonathan loved David deeply. Jonathan also set up a secret signal with arrows. If the arrows were called back on the near side, David could come. If they were said to be beyond, David must go.

David hid in the field while Saul sat down to the feast. On the first day Saul said nothing, thinking David was ceremonially unclean. But on the second day Saul asked why David had not come. Jonathan gave the agreed answer about Bethlehem and the family sacrifice.

Saul became fiercely angry with Jonathan. He said David must die, and when Jonathan asked what David had done, Saul threw a spear at him. Then Jonathan knew for certain that his father was determined to kill David. Grieved for David because his father had treated him shamefully, Jonathan left the table and ate no food that second day.

The next morning Jonathan went to the field with a young boy and shot an arrow beyond him, giving David the warning to leave. After the boy had gone, David came out from hiding, bowed low, and the two friends wept together. Jonathan sent David away in peace, remembering the oath they had made before the Lord for their families forever.