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Saul Repeatedly Attempts to Take David’s Life

19 Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much.[a] So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying[b] to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. Find[c] a hiding place and stay in seclusion.[d] I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak to my father about you. When I find out what the problem is,[e] I will let you know.”

So Jonathan spoke on David’s behalf[f] to his father Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial[g] for you. He risked his life[h] when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?”

Saul accepted Jonathan’s advice[i] and took an oath, “As surely as the Lord lives, he will not be put to death.” Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he had done formerly.[j]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 19:1 tn Heb “delighted greatly in David.”
  2. 1 Samuel 19:2 tn Heb “seeking.”
  3. 1 Samuel 19:2 tn Heb “stay in.”
  4. 1 Samuel 19:2 tn Heb “and hide yourself.”
  5. 1 Samuel 19:3 tn Heb “when I see.”
  6. 1 Samuel 19:4 tn Heb “spoke good with respect to David.”
  7. 1 Samuel 19:4 tn Heb “good.”
  8. 1 Samuel 19:5 tn Heb “and he put his life into his hand.”
  9. 1 Samuel 19:6 tn Heb “and Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan.”
  10. 1 Samuel 19:7 tn Heb “and he was before him as before.”

Saul Tries to Kill David

19 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. (A)But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king (B)sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. For (C)he took his life in his hand (D)and he struck down the Philistine, (E)and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against (F)innocent blood by killing David without cause?” And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, (G)“As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence (H)as before.

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