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Saul Tries to Kill David

19 Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his strong affection for David, told him what his father was planning. “Tomorrow morning,” he warned him, “you must find a hiding place out in the fields. I’ll ask my father to go out there with me, and I’ll talk to him about you. Then I’ll tell you everything I can find out.”

The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. “The king must not sin against his servant David,” Jonathan said. “He’s never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could. Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the Lord brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!”

So Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed, “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed.”

Afterward Jonathan called David and told him what had happened. Then he brought David to Saul, and David served in the court as before.

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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. So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you. In the morning be careful and stay hidden in a secret place. 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.”

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. 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?” Saul listened to Jonathan, and swore by the life of the Lord that David[f] would not be killed. Jonathan summoned David and told him all this.[g] Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and David[h] served him[i] as before.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 19:1 Or servants
  2. 1 Samuel 19:1 Lit. took great delight in
  3. 1 Samuel 19:3 The Heb. lacks he intends to do
  4. 1 Samuel 19:5 Lit. put his life in his hand
  5. 1 Samuel 19:5 Lit. do wrong with innocent blood
  6. 1 Samuel 19:6 Lit. he
  7. 1 Samuel 19:7 Lit. all these words
  8. 1 Samuel 19:7 Lit. he
  9. 1 Samuel 19:7 Lit. was in his presence