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.