16. So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.’
17. And Jonathan made David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
18. Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
19. The day after tomorrow, towards evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel.
20. I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target.
21. Then I will send a boy and say, “Go, find the arrows.” If I say to him, “Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,” then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger.
22. But if I say to the boy, “Look, the arrows are beyond you,” then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away.
23. And about the matter you and I discussed – remember, the Lord is witness between you and me for ever.’
24. So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat.
25. He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty.
26. Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, ‘Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean – surely he is unclean.’