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Jonathan Intercedes for David

19 Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants about killing David, but Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much.[a] So Jonathan informed David, saying, “My father Saul is trying to kill you; now please take care! In the morning you should stay in the hiding place and conceal yourself. I will go out and stand at my father’s side[b] in the field where you are, and I will speak about you to my father; if I find out anything[c] I will tell it to you.” So Jonathan spoke well about David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his service for you has been very good. He put his life in his hand and attacked the Philistine, and Yahweh brought about a great victory for all of Israel, and you saw it and rejoiced! Now why should you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore, “As Yahweh lives,[d] he will not be put to death!” Jonathan called to David and told him all of these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul and he was before him as formerly.[e]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 19:1 Literally “delighted in David very”
  2. 1 Samuel 19:3 Literally “at the hand of my father”
  3. 1 Samuel 19:3 Literally “if I see and what?”
  4. 1 Samuel 19:6 Literally “the life of Yahweh”
  5. 1 Samuel 19:7 Literally “yesterday three days ago”

Saul Tries to Kill David

19 Saul told his son Jonathan(A) and all the attendants to kill(B) David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding(C) and stay there. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak(D) to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”

Jonathan spoke(E) well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong(F) to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. He took his life(G) in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory(H) for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent(I) man like David by killing him for no reason?”

Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.(J)

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