Saul Seeks to Kill Jonathan
Saul explodes at Jonathan for siding with David and declares that David must die because his own kingdom cannot stand while David lives. When Jonathan asks what David has done, Saul hurls a spear at him, and Jonathan leaves the meal grieving.
T30hen Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? 31For as long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!” 32“Why must he be put to death?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?” 33Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David. 34Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and did not eat any food that second day of the month, for he was grieved by his father’s shameful treatment of David.
Jonathan goes to the field with the boy and carries out the sign exactly as planned, sending the arrows beyond him. The boy remains unaware, while Jonathan quietly delivers the message David needs.
35In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the appointment with David, and a small boy was with him. 36He said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” And as the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him. 37When the boy reached the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called to him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?” 38Then Jonathan cried out, “Hurry! Make haste! Do not delay!” So the boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39But the boy did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement. 40Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the boy and said, “Go, take it back to the city.”
After the boy leaves, David and Jonathan meet, bow, kiss, and weep together before parting. Jonathan sends David away in peace under the covenant the two have sworn before the LORD for themselves and their descendants.
41When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together — though David wept more. 42And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.