16. And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord take vengeance on David’s enemies.”
17. And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18. Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
19. On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap.
20. And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
21. And behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then you are to come, for, as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.
22. But if I say to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the Lord has sent you away.
23. And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.”
24. So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.
25. The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.