16. And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let Jehovah even require it at the hand of David's enemies!
17. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, by the love he had for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18. And Jonathan said to him, To-morrow is the new moon; and thou wilt be missed, for thy seat will be empty;
19. but on the third day thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself on the day of the business, and abide by the stone Ezel.
20. And I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
21. And behold, I will send the lad, saying, Go, find the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come, for there is peace for thee, and it is nothing; as Jehovah liveth.
22. But if I say thus to the youth: Behold, the arrows are beyond thee, --go thy way; for Jehovah sends thee away.
23. And as to the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between me and thee for ever.
24. And David hid himself in the field; and it was the new moon, and the king sat at table to eat.
25. And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.
26. And Saul said nothing that day; for he thought, Something has befallen him, that he is not clean: surely he is not clean.
27. And it came to pass the next day after the new moon, the second day of the month, as David's place was empty, that Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why has not the son of Jesse come to table, neither yesterday nor to-day?
28. And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem,
29. and said, Let me go, I pray thee; for we have a family sacrifice in the city; and my brother himself has commanded me to be there; and now, if I have found favour in thy sight, let me go away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. He has therefore not come to the king's table.