1 Samuel 20 David's interview with Jonathan

 1 Samuel 20

David's interview with Jonathan

1 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah: and he came and said to Jonathan, What have I done? what is my crime? and what is my sin before your father, who seeks to take my life?

2 And he said to him, This is not so: you shall not die; behold, my father does not do anything big or small without first giving me a part; why would my father cover this business for me? it's not like this.

3 Then David swore again, and said, Father, it is well known to you that I found grace in your eyes; so he said, "Don't know this, Jonathan, lest you be hurt; and in truth, the Lord lives, and your soul lives, that there is only one step between me and death.

4 And Jonathan said to David, "Whatever your soul says, I will do to you."

5 David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, when I usually sit with the king to eat: let me go, however, and I will hide in the field until the third evening."

6 If your father notices my absence, you will say: David asked me very much to let him run to Bethlehem, his city: because there is an annual sacrifice there for the entire lineage.

7 If he says: Okay, then your servant has peace: but if he is very angry, he knows that he is already determined in evil.

8 Therefore, show mercy to your servant, because you have made your servant to enter into a covenant with the Lord with you: if there is a crime in me, kill me myself: why would you take me to your father?

9 Then Jonathan said, Far be it from you: but if I somehow knew that this evil is already entirely determined by my father, that it might come upon you, would I not discover it?

10 And David said to Jonathan, Who can tell me if your father happens to answer you harshly?