24. So David hid himself in the field.When the new moon came, the king sat at the feast to eat.
25. He took his customary seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite him while Abner sat beside Saul. David’s seat was empty.
26. Saul didn’t say anything that day because he thought, Perhaps David became unclean somehow. That must be it.
27. But on the next day, the second of the new moon, David’s seat was still empty. Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why hasn’t Jesse’s son come to the table, either yesterday or today?"
28. Jonathan answered Saul, "David begged my permission to go to Bethlehem.
29. He said, ‘Please let me go because we have a family sacrifice there in town, and my brother has ordered me to be present. Please do me a favor and let me slip away so I can see my family.’ That’s why David hasn’t been at the king’s table."
30. At that, Saul got angry at Jonathan. "You son of a stubborn, rebellious woman!" he said. "Do you think I don’t know how you’ve allied yourself with Jesse’s son? Shame on you and on the mother who birthed you!
31. As long as Jesse’s son lives on this earth, neither you nor your dynasty will be secure. Now have him brought to me because he’s a dead man!"