1. Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officers to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan was very fond of David,
2. so he reported to David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you. Please be careful tomorrow morning. Go into hiding, and stay out of sight.
3. I’ll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you’ll be. I’ll speak with my father about you. If I find out anything, I’ll tell you.”
4. So Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. “You should not commit a sin against your servant David,” he said. “He hasn’t sinned against you. Instead, he has done some very fine things for you:
5. He risked his life and killed the Philistine Goliath, and the Lord gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you rejoiced. Why then should you sin by shedding David’s innocent blood for no reason?”
6. Saul listened to Jonathan, and he promised, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, he will not be killed.”
7. Jonathan told David all of this. Then Jonathan took David to Saul. So David was returned to his former status in Saul’s court.