20. And I will shoot three arrows to its side, as though I shot at a target.
21. Then I will send a boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I expressly say to the boy, ‘See, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then come, for it will be safe for you. And as the Lord lives, it is nothing of concern.
22. But if I say to the young man, ‘See, the arrows are beyond you,’ go, for the Lord has sent you away.
23. As for the matter upon which you and I have spoken, the Lord is between you and me forever.”
24. So David hid himself in the field. And when the New Moon appeared, the king sat down over food to eat.
25. Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on a seat by the wall. Then Jonathan arose and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.
26. Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day. For he thought, “Something has happened. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.”
27. It happened on the following day, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place remained empty. So Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to eat food either yesterday or today?”
28. And Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave from me to go to Bethlehem.
29. And he said, ‘Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city and my brother has commanded me to come. Now, if I have found favor in your sight, please let me leave and see my brothers.’ This is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
30. Then Saul was angry with Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse rebellious woman, do I not know that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
31. For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now, send and bring him to me, for he is a dead man.”
32. Jonathan answered Saul his father and said to him, “Why should he be killed? What has he done?”
33. So Saul cast a spear at him to strike him. Therefore Jonathan knew that his father was determined to kill David.
34. And Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger and did not eat food on the second day of the month. For he was grieved for David, because his father had dishonored him.
35. In the morning Jonathan went out to the field at the time appointed with David, and a little boy was with him.
36. And he said to his boy, “Run, find the arrows which I shoot.” He ran, and he shot the arrow over him.