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.”