1 Samuel 19:1-7

International Standard Version

Jonathan Intercedes for David

19 Saul told his son Jonathan and all his officials^[a] to kill David, but Saul’s son Jonathan was very fond of^[b] David. ² So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you. In the morning be careful and stay hidden in a secret place. ³ I’ll go out and stand by my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to my father about you. If I find out what he intends to do,^[c] I’ll tell you.”

⁴ Jonathan spoke to his father Saul favorably about David. “The king shouldn’t wrong his servant David because he has not wronged you and because what he has done has been very beneficial for you. ⁵ He risked his life^[d] and struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a spectacular deliverance for all Israel. You saw that and rejoiced, so why would you do wrong and shed innocent blood^[e] by killing David without cause?” ⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan, and swore by the life of the Lord that David^[f] would not be killed. ⁷ Jonathan summoned David and told him all this.^[g] Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and David^[h] served him^[i] as before.