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1 Samuel 20
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
1 Samuel 20
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 20
David Consults with Jonathan. 1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and went to Jonathan. “What have I done?” he asked him. “What crime or what offense does your father hold against me that he seeks my life?”(A) 2 Jonathan answered him: “Heaven forbid that you should die! My father does nothing, great or small, without telling me. Why, then, should my father conceal this from me? It cannot be true!” 3 But David replied: “Your father is well aware that I am favored with your friendship, so he has decided, ‘Jonathan must not know about this or he will be grieved.’ Nevertheless, as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.” 4 Jonathan then said to David, “I will do whatever you say.” 5 David answered: “Tomorrow is the new moon, when I should in fact dine with the king. Let me go and hide in the open country until evening.(B) 6 If it turns out that your father misses me, say, ‘David urged me to let him go on short notice to his city Bethlehem, because his whole clan is holding its seasonal sacrifice there.’(C) 7 If he says, ‘Very well,’ your servant is safe. But if he becomes quite angry, you can be sure he has planned some harm. 8 (D)Do this kindness for your servant because of the Lord’s covenant into which you brought us: if I am guilty, kill me yourself! Why should you give me up to your father?” 9 But Jonathan answered: “Not I! If ever I find out that my father is determined to harm you, I will certainly let you know.” 10 David then asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father gives you a harsh answer?”
Mutual Agreement. 11 Jonathan replied to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” When they were out in the open country together, 12 Jonathan said to David: “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, I will sound out my father about this time tomorrow. Whether he is well disposed toward David or not, I will inform you. 13 (E)Should it please my father to bring any harm upon you, may the Lord do thus to Jonathan and more,[a] if I do not inform you of it and send you on your way in peace. May the Lord be with you even as he was with my father. 14 Only this: if I am still alive, may you show me the kindness of the Lord. But if I die, 15 never cut off your kindness from my house. And when the Lord cuts off all the enemies of David from the face of the land, 16 the name of Jonathan must never be cut off from the family of David, or the Lord will make you answer for it.” 17 And in his love for David, Jonathan renewed his oath to him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
18 Jonathan then said to him: “Tomorrow is the new moon; you will be missed, since your place will be vacant. 19 On the third day you will be missed all the more. Go to the spot where you hid on the other occasion and wait near the mound there.(F) 20 On the third day of the month I will shoot arrows to the side of it, as though aiming at a target. 21 I will then send my attendant to recover the arrows. If in fact I say to him, ‘Look, the arrow is this side of you; pick it up,’ come, for you are safe. As the Lord lives, there will be nothing to fear. 22 But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrow is beyond you,’ go, for the Lord sends you away. 23 However, in the matter which you and I have discussed, the Lord shall be between you and me forever.” 24 So David hid in the open country.
David’s Absence. On the day of the new moon, when the king sat down at the feast to dine, 25 he took his usual place against the wall. Jonathan sat facing him, while Abner sat at the king’s side. David’s place was vacant. 26 (G)Saul, however, said nothing that day, for he thought, “He must have become unclean by accident.”[b] 27 On the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was still vacant. So Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to table yesterday or today?” 28 Jonathan explained to Saul: “David pleaded with me to let him go to Bethlehem. 29 ‘Please let me go,’ he begged, ‘for we are having a clan sacrifice in our city, and my brothers insist on my presence. Now then, if you think well of me, give me leave to visit my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.” 30 But Saul grew angry with Jonathan and said to him: “Son of a rebellious woman, do I not know that, to your own disgrace and to the disgrace of your mother’s nakedness, you are the companion of Jesse’s son? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, you cannot make good your claim to the kingship![c] Now send for him, and bring him to me, for he must die.”(H) 32 But Jonathan argued with his father Saul: “Why should he die? What has he done?” 33 At this Saul brandished his spear to strike him, and thus Jonathan learned that his father was determined to kill David.(I) 34 Jonathan sprang up from the table in a rage and ate nothing that second day of the month, because he was grieved on David’s account, and because his father had humiliated him.
Jonathan’s Farewell. 35 The next morning Jonathan, accompanied by a young boy, went out into the field for his appointment with David. 36 There he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows.” And as the boy ran, he shot an arrow past him. 37 When the boy made for the spot where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called after him, “The arrow is farther on!” 38 Again he called to the boy, “Hurry, be quick, don’t delay!” Jonathan’s boy picked up the arrow and brought it to his master. 39 The boy suspected nothing; only Jonathan and David knew what was meant. 40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go, take them to the city.” 41 When the boy had gone, David rose from beside the mound and fell on his face to the ground three times in homage. They kissed each other and wept aloud together. 42 (J)At length Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, in keeping with what the two of us have sworn by the name of the Lord: ‘The Lord shall be between you and me, and between your offspring and mine forever.’”
Footnotes
- 20:13 See note on 3:17.
- 20:26 The meal on the first day of the month would have had religious overtones, and a ritual impurity (Lv 15:16; Dt 23:10–12) would have barred David from sharing in it.
- 20:31 Your claim to the kingship: Saul admits his intention that Jonathan should succeed him and that David is a threat to his lineage (cf. 23:17). However Jonathan has already acknowledged David’s kingship (18:3–4) and his own subservient role (20:13–16).
1 Samwiri 20
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
1 Samwiri 20
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
Dawudi ne Yonasaani
20 (A)Awo Dawudi n’adduka okuva e Nayosi mu Laama n’agenda eri Yonasaani, n’amubuuza nti, “Nkoze ki? Nazza musango ki? Kibi ki kye nakola ekiyagazisa kitaawo okunzita?” 2 Yonasaani n’addamu nti, “Kikafuuwe! Togenda kuttibwa. Laba kitange talina ky’akola, kakibe kinene oba kitono, nga tantegeezezza. Kiki ekyandimuleetedde okukinkisa ekyo? Tekiriiwo.”
3 (B)Naye Dawudi n’amulayirira ng’ayogera nti, “Kitaawo akimanyi bulungi nti onjagala, era alowooza mu mutima gwe nti, ‘Yonasaani tateekwa kumanya nsonga eyo, kubanga ajja kunakuwala.’ Mukama nga bw’ali omulamu, era naawe ng’oli mujulirwa, ndi wakati mu kufa.”
4 Awo Yonasaani n’agamba Dawudi nti, “Buli ky’oyagala nkukolere, nnaakikukolera.”
5 (C)Dawudi n’agamba Yonasaani nti, “Enkya mbaga ey’okujuukirirako omwezi nga gubonese era nsubirwa okuliira awamu ne kabaka, naye nzikiriza ŋŋende ne kweke mu nnimiro okutuusa ku lunaku olwokusatu akawungeezi nga wayiseewo ennaku bbiri. 6 (D)Kitaawo bw’anambuuza, mugambe nti, ‘Dawudi yansabye, agende e Besirekemu, mu kibuga kye waabwe, kubanga waliwo ssaddaaka eya buli mwaka eneeweebwayo ku lw’ennyumba ye yonna.’ 7 (E)Bw’anaakuddamu nti, ‘Kirungi,’ olwo nno omuweereza wo anaaba mirembe. Naye bw’anaanyiiga, kale onootegeera nti amaliridde okunkola akabi. 8 (F)Noolwekyo beera wa kisa eri omuweereza wo, kubanga wakola endagaano n’omuweereza wo mu maaso ga Mukama. Naye oba nnina omusango, gw’oba onzita. Lwaki ompaayo eri kitaawo?”
9 Yonasaani n’ayogera nti, “Tekiribaawo! Singa nnali ntegedde nga kitange amaliridde okukukola akabi, sandikubuulidde?”
10 Awo Dawudi n’amubuuza nti, “Ani anantegeeza, kitaawo ng’akuzzeemu n’obusungu?”
11 Yonasaani n’amugamba nti, “Jjangu tulage mu nnimiro.” Awo bombi ne balaga mu nnimiro.
12 Awo Yonasaani n’agamba Dawudi nti, “Mukama, Katonda wa Isirayiri, abeere mujulirwa waffe; nzija kugezaako okumatiza kitange enkya oba okwosa enkya ku ssaawa nga zino. Bw’anaaba nga takuliiko nsonga, kiki ekinandobera okukumanyisa? 13 (G)Naye kitange bw’anaaba ng’amaliridde okukukola akabi, kale Mukama ankole bw’atyo, n’okusingawo, bwe siikutegeeze ne nkusindika ogende weekweke. Mukama abeere naawe, nga bw’abadde ne kitange. 14 Bwe nnaaba omulamu, ondage ekisa kya Mukama ekitakoma, ennaku zonna ez’obulamu bwange, nneme okuttibwa, 15 (H)tokendeezanga ku kisa so tolekangayo kulaga bwesigwa eri ennyumba yange, Mukama ne bw’alizikiriza buli mulabe wa Dawudi ku nsi.”
16 (I)Awo Yonasaani n’akola endagaano n’ennyumba ya Dawudi ng’agamba nti, “Mukama abonereze abalabe ba Dawudi.” 17 (J)Yonasaani n’alayiza Dawudi nate okukakasa ekirayiro kye, olw’okwagala kwe yamwagala kubanga yamwagala nga bwe yali yeeyagala.
18 (K)Yonasaani n’agamba Dawudi nti, “Enkya mbaga ey’okujuukirirako omwezi nga gubonese, naye tunaakusaalirwa, kijja kutegeerekeka nti toliiwo, kubanga ekifo kyo kinaaba kyereere. 19 (L)Okwosa enkya, obudde nga bunaatera okuziba, genda mu kifo mwe weekweka luli, ebizibu bino bwe byatandika, obeere awali ejjinja Ezeri. 20 Nnaalasa obusaale busatu ku mabbali gaalyo, ng’ateeba ssabbaawa. 21 N’oluvannyuma nzija kutuma omulenzi nga mugamba nti, ‘Genda onoonye obusaale.’ Bwe naamugamba nti, ‘Laba, obusaale buli ku luuyi gy’oli, buleete,’ kale onojja, kubanga Mukama nga bw’ali omulamu, onoolama, era tewaabeewo kabi. 22 (M)Naye bwe nnaagamba omulenzi nti, ‘Laba, obusaale buli mu maaso,’ kale onoogenda, kubanga olwo Mukama ng’akugambye ogende. 23 (N)Era ne ku bigambo bye twayogerako, Mukama abeere naffe ennaku zonna.”
24 Awo Dawudi ne yeekweka mu nnimiro. Embaga ey’okujuukirirako omwezi nga gubonese bwe yatuuka, kabaka n’atuula okulya. 25 (O)N’atuula mu kifo kye ekya bulijjo okumpi n’ekisenge okwolekera Yonasaani. Abuneeri n’atuula okuliraana Sawulo, naye ekifo kya Dawudi kyali kyereere. 26 (P)Sawulo n’atabaako kyayogera ku lunaku olwo, kubanga yalowooza nti, “Waliwo ekituuse ku Dawudi ne kimufuula atali mulongoofu; ddala si mulongoofu.” 27 Olunaku olwaddirira, omwezi nga gumaze okuboneka, ekifo kya Dawudi ne kisigala nga kyereere. Awo Sawulo n’abuuza mutabani we Yonasaani nti, “Kiki ekyalobedde mutabani wa Yese okujja ku kijjulo, olunaku lwa jjo newaakubadde leero?”
28 (Q)Yonasaani n’addamu nti, “Dawudi yanneegayiridde mukkirize agende e Besirekemu, 29 ng’ayogera nti, ‘Nzikiriza ŋŋende kubanga ennyumba yaffe balina ssaddaaka ey’okuwaayo mu kibuga, ne muganda wange yandagidde mbeere yo. Kale nno obanga ndabye ekisa mu maaso go, nzikiriza ŋŋende ndabe baganda bange.’ Kyeyavudde tabeerawo ku mmeeza ya kabaka.”
30 Awo Sawulo n’annyiigira nnyo Yonasaani, n’amugamba nti, “Ggwe omwana w’omukazi omukyamu era omujeemu! Olowooza sikimanyi nga weekobaana ne mutabani wa Yese okweleetako okuswala, n’okukwasa maama wo eyakuzaala ensonyi? 31 Mutabani wa Yese ng’akyali mulamu ku nsi, tolinywezebwa ggwe newaakubadde obwakabaka bwo. Kaakano mutumye omundeetere, kubanga ateekwa okufa.”
32 (R)Awo Yonasaani n’addamu kitaawe Sawulo nti, “Kiki ekimugwanyiza okuttibwa? Akoze ki?” 33 (S)Naye Sawulo n’amukasuukirira effumu amutte. Awo Yonasaani we yategeerera nga kitaawe amaliridde okutta Dawudi.
34 Yonasaani n’asituka ku mmeeza mu busungu obungi, era n’atalya mmere ku lunaku olwokubiri olw’omwezi, kubanga yanakuwalira ekikolwa kya kitaawe eky’obuswavu eri Dawudi.
35 Ku makya Yonasaani n’alaga mu nnimiro okusisinkana Dawudi, nga bwe baali balagaanye. Yalina akalenzi ke yagenda nako, 36 n’akagamba nti, “Dduka onoonye obusaale bwe nnaalasa.” Akalenzi bwe kaali nga kadduka, Yonasaani n’alasa akasaale mu maaso gaako ne kamusookayo. 37 (T)Awo akalenzi bwe kaatuuka mu kifo akasaale we kaali kagudde, Yonasaani n’akakoowoola ng’agamba nti, “Akasaale tekali mu maasoko?” 38 N’akangula ku ddoboozi, n’amugamba nti, “Yanguwa, genda mangu, tolwawo.” Akalenzi ne kakima akasaale, ne kakomawo eri mukama waako. 39 Naye akalenzi ne katabaako kye kategeera. Yonasaani ne Dawudi bokka be baamanya enteekateeka eyo. 40 Awo Yonasaani n’akwasa akalenzi ebyokulwanyisa bye, n’akagamba nti, “Genda, obizzeeyo mu kibuga.” 41 Akalenzi bwe kaamala okugenda, Dawudi n’avaayo mu kifo eky’obukiikaddyo, n’agwa wansi mu maaso ga Yonasaani n’amuvuunamira emirundi esatu. Ne bagwaŋŋana mu bifuba ne bakaaba, naye Dawudi ye yasinga okukaaba.
42 (U)Awo Yonasaani n’agamba Dawudi nti, “Genda mirembe, kubanga fembi twelayirira omukwano mu linnya lya Mukama nga twogera nti, ‘Mukama ye mujulirwa wakati wo nange, ne wakati w’ezzadde lyo n’ezzadde lyange emirembe gyonna.’ ” Dawudi n’agenda, ne Yonasaani n’addayo mu kibuga.
1 Samuel 20
New International Version
1 Samuel 20
New International Version
David and Jonathan
20 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged(A) your father, that he is trying to kill me?”(B)
2 “Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!”
3 But David took an oath(C) and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”
4 Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”
5 So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast,(D) and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide(E) in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. 6 If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission(F) to hurry to Bethlehem,(G) his hometown, because an annual(H) sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ 7 If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper,(I) you can be sure that he is determined(J) to harm me. 8 As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant(K) with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill(L) me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”
9 “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”
10 David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”
11 “Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.
12 Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound(M) out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13 But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely,(N) if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with(O) you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing kindness(P) like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family(Q)—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
16 So Jonathan(R) made a covenant(S) with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.(T)” 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath(U) 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.(V) 19 The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid(W) when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows(X) 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(Y) 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(Z) between you and me forever.”
24 So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast(AA) came, the king sat down to eat. 25 He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan,[a] and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty.(AB) 26 Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.(AC)” 27 But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked me for permission(AD) to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice(AE) in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
30 Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? 31 As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom(AF) will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”
32 “Why(AG) should he be put to death? What(AH) has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended(AI) to kill David.
34 Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.
35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, 36 and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond(AJ) you?” 38 Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 (The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.) 40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”
41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground.(AK) Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.
42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace,(AL) for we have sworn friendship(AM) with each other in the name of the Lord,(AN) saying, ‘The Lord is witness(AO) between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.(AP)’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.[b]
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 20:25 Septuagint; Hebrew wall. Jonathan arose
- 1 Samuel 20:42 In Hebrew texts this sentence (20:42b) is numbered 21:1.
1 Samuel 20
Names of God Bible
1 Samuel 20
Names of God Bible
David Makes a Promise to Jonathan
20 David fled from the pastures at Ramah, came to Jonathan, and asked, “What have I done? What crime am I guilty of? What sin have I committed against your father that he’s trying to kill me?”
2 Jonathan answered, “That’s unthinkable! You’re not going to die! My father does nothing without telling me, whether it’s important or not. Why should my father hide this from me? It’s just not that way.”
3 But David took an oath, saying, “Your father certainly knows that you support me, so he said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know about this. It will bring him distress.’ But I solemnly swear, as Yahweh and you live, I’m only one step away from death.”
4 Jonathan said to David, “I’ll do whatever you say.”
5 David replied, “Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, when I should sit and eat at the king’s table. But let me go and hide in the countryside for two more nights. 6 If your father really misses me, tell him, ‘David repeatedly begged me to let him run to Bethlehem, his hometown, because his relatives are offering the annual sacrifice there.’ 7 If he says, ‘Good!’ then I will be safe. But if he gets really angry, then you’ll know for sure that he has decided to harm me. 8 Now, be kind to me. After all, you forced me into an agreement with Yahweh. If I have committed any crime, kill me yourself. Why bother taking me to your father?”
9 Jonathan answered, “That’s unthinkable! If I knew for sure that my father had decided to harm you, I would have told you about it.”
10 Then David asked, “Who will tell me whether or not your father gives you a harsh answer?”
11 Jonathan said, “Let’s go out into the country.” So they went out into the country.
12 “As Yahweh Elohim of Israel is my witness,” Jonathan continued, “I’ll find out in the next two or three days how my father feels about you. If he does feel kindly toward you, then I will send someone to tell you. 13 If my father plans to harm you and I fail to tell you and send you away safely, may Yahweh harm me even more. May Yahweh be with you as he used to be with my father. 14 But as long as I live, promise me that you will show me kindness because of Yahweh. And even when I die, 15 never stop being kind to my family. Yahweh will wipe each of David’s enemies off the face of the earth. 16 At that time, if Jonathan’s name[a] is cut off from David’s family, then may Yahweh punish David’s house.”[b]
17 Once again Jonathan swore an oath to David because of his love for David. He loved David as much as he loved himself. 18 “Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival,” Jonathan told him, “and you will be missed when your seat is empty. 19 The day after tomorrow you will be missed even more.[c] So go to the place where you hid on that other occasion, and stay by the rock. 20 I will shoot three arrows from beside it toward a target. 21 Then I will send out a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ Now, if I tell the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are next to you; get them,’ then come back with me. You will be safe, and there will be no trouble. I swear it, as Yahweh lives. 22 But if I tell the boy, ‘The arrows are next to you,’ then go, because Yahweh has sent you away. 23 We have made a promise to each other, and Yahweh is a witness between you and me forever.”
24 So David hid in the countryside. When the New Moon Festival came, King Saul sat down to eat the festival meal. 25 He sat in his usual seat by the wall, while Jonathan stood. Abner sat beside Saul, but David’s place was empty. 26 Saul didn’t say anything that day, thinking, “Something has happened to him so that he’s unclean.[d] He must be unclean.” 27 But on the second day of the month, David’s place was still empty.
Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t Jesse’s son come to the meal either yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David repeatedly begged me to let him go to Bethlehem. 29 David said to me ‘Please let me go. Our relatives will offer a sacrifice in the city, and my brother ordered me to be there. If you will permit it, please let me go to see my brothers.’ This is why he hasn’t come to your banquet.”
30 Then Saul got angry with Jonathan. “Son of a crooked and rebellious woman!” he called Jonathan. “I know you’ve sided with Jesse’s son. You have no shame. You act as if you are your mother’s son but not mine.[e] 31 As long as Jesse’s son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Now, send some men to bring him to me. He’s a dead man!”
32 Jonathan asked his father, “Why should he be killed? What has he done?”
33 Saul raised his spear to strike him. Then Jonathan knew his father was determined to kill David. 34 Jonathan got up from the table very angry and ate nothing that second day of the month. He was worried sick about David because Jonathan had been humiliated by his own father.
35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the country to the place he and David had agreed on. Jonathan had a young boy with him. 36 “Run,” he told the boy, “please find the arrows I shoot.”
The boy ran, and Jonathan shot the arrow over him. 37 When the boy reached the place where Jonathan’s arrow had landed, Jonathan called after him, “The arrows are next to you!” 38 Jonathan added, “Quick! Hurry up! Don’t stand there!” Jonathan’s young servant gathered the arrows and came to his master. 39 The boy had no idea what was going on, but Jonathan and David understood. 40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told the boy, “Take them back into town.”
41 When the boy had left, David came out from the south side of the rock and quickly bowed down three times with his face touching the ground. Then they kissed each other and cried together, but David cried the loudest.[f]
42 “Go in peace!” Jonathan told David. “We have both taken an oath in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh will be a witness between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’”[g]
So David left, and Jonathan went into the city.
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 20:16 Greek; Masoretic Text omits “name.”
- 1 Samuel 20:16 Ancient scribal tradition; Masoretic Text “punish David’s enemies.” At times some scribes would alter the text when they thought it was disrespectful.
- 1 Samuel 20:19 Hebrew meaning uncertain.
- 1 Samuel 20:26 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.
- 1 Samuel 20:30 English equivalent difficult.
- 1 Samuel 20:41 Hebrew meaning uncertain.
- 1 Samuel 20:42 1 Samuel 20:42b in English Bibles is 1 Samuel 21:1 in the Hebrew Bible.
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya (LCB)
Bayibuli Entukuvu, Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya Copyright © 1984, 1986, 1993, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Tuweereddwa olukusa okuva mu Biblica, Inc.® Olukusa lwonna mu nsi yonna lusigalidde mu Biblica, Inc. Luganda Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1984, 1986, 1993, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
Names of God Bible (NOG)
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.