1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? 2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.*20.2 shew…: Heb. uncover mine ear 3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. 4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.*20.4 Whatsoever…: or, Say what is thy mind and I will do, etc*20.4 desireth: Heb. speaketh, or, thinketh 5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. 6 If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.*20.6 sacrifice: or, feast 7 If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him. 8 Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

9 And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? 10 Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?

11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. 12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;*20.12 sounded: Heb. searched*20.12 shew…: Heb. uncover thine ear 13 The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.*20.13 shew…: Heb. uncover thine ear 14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: 15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies.*20.16 made: Heb. cut 17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.*20.17 because…: or, by his love toward him 18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.*20.18 empty: Heb. missed 19 And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.*20.19 quickly: or, diligently: Heb. greatly*20.19 when the…: Heb. in the day of the business*20.19 Ezel: or, that sheweth the way 20 And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. 21 And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.*20.21 no hurt: Heb. not any thing 22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away. 23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.

24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. 25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. 26 Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. 27 And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? 28 And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem: 29 And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table. 30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?*20.30 Thou…: or, Thou perverse rebel: Heb. Son of perverse rebellion 31 For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.*20.31 shall…: Heb. is the son of death 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.

35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. 36 And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.*20.36 beyond…: Heb. to pass over him 37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? 38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. 39 But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.*20.40 artillery: Heb. instruments*20.40 his lad: Heb. the lad that was his

41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. 42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.*20.42 forasmuch…: or, the LORD be witness of that which etc

1 TOE het Dawid gevlug uit Najot by Rama, en hy het by Jónatan gekom en gevra: Wat het ek gedoen? Wat is my misdaad, en wat is my sonde voor jou vader, dat hy my lewe soek?

2 Maar hy sê vir hom: Volstrek nie! Jy sal nie sterwe nie. Kyk, my vader doen geen ding, klein of groot, sonder om dit aan my te openbaar nie; waarom sou my vader dan hierdie saak vir my wegsteek? Dit is nie so nie.

3 Toe sweer Dawid verder en sê: Jou vader weet baie goed dat ek guns in jou oë gevind het; daarom het hy gedink: Laat Jónatan dit nie weet nie, anders word hy bedroef. Maar so waar as die Here leef en jou siel leef, daar is maar net een tree tussen my en die dood!

4 En Jónatan het Dawid geantwoord: Wat jy begeer, sal ek vir jou doen.

5 Toe sê Dawid vir Jónatan: Kyk, môre is dit nuwemaan, en ek moet sekerlik met die koning saam aansit om te eet; maar laat my gaan, dat ek my wegsteek in die veld tot oormôre-aand.

6 As jou vader my inderdaad mis, moet jy sê: Dawid het my dringend verlof gevra om gou na sy stad Betlehem te loop, want daar is die jaarlikse offer vir die hele geslag.

7 As hy so sê: Goed! dan is jou dienaar veilig; maar as hy baie kwaad word, weet dan dat die onheil van sy kant vas besluit is.

8 Bewys dan guns aan jou dienaar, want jy het jou dienaar met jou saam in 'n verbond van die Here gebring. Maar as daar by my 'n misdaad is, maak jy my dan self dood — waarom tog sou jy my na jou vader bring?

9 Toe sê Jónatan: Moenie so dink nie! Want as ek sekerlik bemerk dat die onheil van my vader se kant vas besluit is om oor jou te kom, sou ek jou dit dan nie te kenne gee nie?

10 En Dawid het Jónatan gevra: Wie sal my dit te kenne gee of jou vader jou miskien 'n harde antwoord gee?

11 En Jónatan sê vir Dawid: Kom, laat ons uitgaan die veld in. En hulle twee het die veld ingegaan.

12 Daarop sê Jónatan vir Dawid: Die Here, die God van Israel, is getuie dat ek my vader môre of oormôre op hierdie tyd sal uitvra; en as dit gunstig is vir Dawid, sal ek dan nie na jou stuur en jou dit openbaar nie?

13 Mag die Here so aan Jónatan doen en so daaraan toedoen: as my vader goedvind om onheil oor jou te bring, dan sal ek jou dit openbaar en jou laat gaan, dat jy veilig kan wegkom; en mag die Here met jou wees soos Hy met my vader gewees het.

14 En sal jy my nie, as ek dan nog lewe, die guns van die Here bewys nie, sodat ek nie sterwe nie?

15 Jy sal ook nimmer aan my huis jou guns onttrek nie; wanneer die Here die vyande van Dawid, een vir een, van die aarde af uitroei nie.

16 So het Jónatan dan 'n verbond gesluit met die huis van Dawid. En die Here het dit geëis van die hand van Dawid se vyande.

17 En Jónatan het Dawid weer laat sweer by sy liefde vir hom; want hy het hom liefgehad met die liefde van sy siel.

18 Verder het Jónatan vir hom gesê: Môre is dit nuwemaan, en jy sal gemis word, want jou sitplek sal leeg wees.

19 Maar oormôre moet jy sekerlik afkom en gaan na die plek waar jy jou op die werkdag weggesteek het, en jy moet langs die klip Esel gaan sit.

20 Dan sal ek drie pyle aan die kant daarvan skiet asof ek na 'n teiken skiet.

21 En kyk, ek sal die dienaar stuur en sê: Gaan soek die pyle! As ek uitdruklik aan die dienaar sê: Daar is die pyle, van jou af duskant toe, bring dit — dan kan jy maar kom; want jy is veilig en daar is niks nie, so waar as die Here leef!

22 Maar as ek só aan die jongman sê: Daar lê die pyle van jou af, verder — gaan dan weg, want die Here stuur jou weg.

23 En wat die saak aangaan wat ons bespreek het, ek en jy — kyk, die Here is tussen my en jou tot in ewigheid.

24 Daarop het Dawid hom in die veld weggesteek. En toe dit nuwemaan was, gaan die koning aan die maaltyd sit om te eet —

25 die koning het op sy sitplek gaan sit soos die vorige kere, op die sitplek teen die muur; en Jónatan het opgestaan, en Abner het langs Saul gesit, maar Dawid se plek was leeg.

26 En Saul het dié dag niks gepraat nie, want hy het gedink: Daar het iets met hom gebeur dat hy nie rein is nie; waarlik, hy is nie rein nie.

27 Maar toe op die volgende, die tweede dag na die nuwemaan, Dawid se plek leeg was, sê Saul vir sy seun Jónatan: Waarom kom die seun van Ísai gister sowel as vandag nie na die maaltyd nie?

28 En Jónatan het Saul geantwoord: Dawid het my dringend verlof gevra na Betlehem toe

29 en gesê: Laat my tog gaan, want ons het 'n familie-offer in die stad, en my broer self het my laat roep. As ek dan nou guns in jou oë gevind het, laat my tog heengaan om my broers te besoek. Daarom het hy nie aan die koning se tafel gekom nie.

30 Toe ontvlam die toorn van Saul teen Jónatan, en hy sê vir hom: Jou ontaarde, wederstrewige seun, weet ek nie dat jy die seun van Ísai verkies tot jou skande en tot skande van jou moeder se naaktheid nie?

31 Want al die dae dat die seun van Ísai op die aarde lewe, sal jy en jou koningskap nie bevestig word nie; stuur dan nou en bring hom na my, want hy moet sterwe.

32 En Jónatan het sy vader Saul geantwoord en vir hom gesê: Waarom moet hy gedood word, wat het hy gedoen?

33 Daarop gooi Saul die spies na hom om hom te tref. Toe Jónatan dan merk dat dit van sy vader se kant vas besluit was om Dawid dood te maak,

34 staan Jónatan op van die tafel in gloeiende toorn, en hy het geen brood geëet op die tweede dag van die nuwemaan nie, want hy was bedroef oor Dawid, omdat sy vader hom smadelik bejeën het.

35 Die volgende môre gaan Jónatan, volgens afspraak met Dawid, na die veld toe uit, en 'n jong dienaar met hom saam.

36 En hy sê aan die dienaar: Loop soek tog die pyle wat ek afskiet. En terwyl die dienaar loop, skiet hy 'n pyl dwarsoor hom heen.

37 Toe die dienaar dan by die plek kom waar Jónatan die pyl geskiet het, roep Jónatan die dienaar agterna en sê: Lê die pyl nie van jou af, verder nie?

38 En Jónatan roep die dienaar agterna: Maak gou, hardloop, moenie bly staan nie. En die dienaar van Jónatan het die pyl opgetel en by sy heer gekom.

39 Maar die dienaar het van niks geweet nie: net Jónatan en Dawid het van die saak geweet.

40 Toe gee Jónatan sy wapens aan die dienaar wat by hom was, en sê vir hom: Gaan, bring dit na die stad.

41 Terwyl die dienaar huis toe gaan, staan Dawid op van die suidekant en val met sy aangesig op die aarde en buig drie maal; daarna het hulle mekaar gesoen en saam geween, totdat Dawid hardop gesnik het.

42 En Jónatan sê vir Dawid: Gaan in vrede, omdat ons twee in die Naam van die Here gesweer en gesê het: Die Here sal tussen my en jou wees, en tussen my nageslag en jou nageslag vir altyd.

43 Daarna het hy opgestaan en weggegaan, maar Jónatan het die stad in geloop.