26. That day Saul said nothing. He thought, “Maybe something happened to David so that he is not clean.”
27. On the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why didn’t Jesse’s son come to the New Moon celebration yesterday or today?”
28. Jonathan answered, “David asked me to let him go to Bethlehem.
29. He said, ‘Let me go. Our family is having a sacrifice in Bethlehem. My brother ordered me to be there. Now if I am your friend, please let me go and see my brothers.’ That is why David has not come to the king’s table.”
30. Saul was very angry with Jonathan and said to him, “You son of a twisted, rebellious woman! I know that you have chosen to support that son of Jesse. This will bring shame to you and to your mother.
31. As long as Jesse’s son lives, you will never be king and have a kingdom. Now, bring David to me! He is a dead man.”
32. Jonathan asked his father, “Why should David be killed? What did he do wrong?”
33. But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan and tried to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father wanted very much to kill David.
34. Jonathan became angry and left the table. He was so upset and angry with his father that he refused to eat any food on the second day of the festival. He was angry because Saul humiliated him and because Saul wanted to kill David.
35. The next morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David as they had agreed. Jonathan brought a little boy with him.
36. He said to the boy, “Run. Go find the arrows I shoot.” The boy began to run, and Jonathan shot the arrows over his head.
37. The boy ran to the place where the arrows fell, but Jonathan called, “The arrows are farther away.”
38. Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go get them. Don’t just stand there.” The boy picked up the arrows and brought them back to his master.
39. The boy knew nothing about what went on. Only Jonathan and David knew.
40. Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy and told him to go back to town.
41. When the boy left, David came out from his hiding place on the other side of the hill. David gave a formal greeting by bowing to the ground three times to show his respect for Jonathan. But then David and Jonathan kissed each other and cried together. It was a very sad goodbye, especially for David.
42. Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace. We have taken an oath in the Lord’S name to be friends forever. We have asked the Lord to be a witness between us and our descendants forever.”