20:1 David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. 'What have I done?' he exclaimed. 'What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 1 , David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. 'What have I done?' he exclaimed. 'What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?'
20:2 'That's not true!' Jonathan protested. 'I'm sure he's not planning any such thing, for he always tells me everything he's going to do, even the little things. I know he wouldn't hide something like this from me. It just isn't so!'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 2 , 'That's not true!' Jonathan protested. 'I'm sure he's not planning any such thing, for he always tells me everything he's going to do, even the little things. I know he wouldn't hide something like this from me. It just isn't so!'
20:3 Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, 'Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, `I won't tell Jonathan--why should I hurt him?' But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the LORD and by your own soul!'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 3 , Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, 'Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, `I won't tell Jonathan--why should I hurt him?' But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the LORD and by your own soul!'
20:4 'Tell me what I can do!' Jonathan exclaimed.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 4 , 'Tell me what I can do!' Jonathan exclaimed.
20:5 David replied, 'Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. I've always eaten with your father on this occasion, but tomorrow I'll hide in the field and stay there until the evening of the third day.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 5 , David replied, 'Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. I've always eaten with your father on this occasion, but tomorrow I'll hide in the field and stay there until the evening of the third day.
20:6 If your father asks where I am, tell him I asked permission to go home to Bethlehem for an annual family sacrifice.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 6 , If your father asks where I am, tell him I asked permission to go home to Bethlehem for an annual family sacrifice.
20:7 If he says, `Fine!' then you will know all is well. But if he is angry and loses his temper, then you will know he was planning to kill me.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 7 , If he says, `Fine!' then you will know all is well. But if he is angry and loses his temper, then you will know he was planning to kill me.
20:8 Show me this kindness as my sworn friend--for we made a covenant together before the LORD--or kill me yourself if I have sinned against your father. But please don't betray me to him!'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 8 , Show me this kindness as my sworn friend--for we made a covenant together before the LORD--or kill me yourself if I have sinned against your father. But please don't betray me to him!'
20:9 'Never!' Jonathan exclaimed. 'You know that if I had the slightest notion my father was planning to kill you, I would tell you at once.'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 9 , 'Never!' Jonathan exclaimed. 'You know that if I had the slightest notion my father was planning to kill you, I would tell you at once.'
20:10 Then David asked, 'How will I know whether or not your father is angry?'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 10 , Then David asked, 'How will I know whether or not your father is angry?'
20:11 'Come out to the field with me,' Jonathan replied. And they went out there together.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 11 , 'Come out to the field with me,' Jonathan replied. And they went out there together.
20:12 Then Jonathan told David, 'I promise by the LORD, the God of Israel, that by this time tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, I will talk to my father and let you know at once how he feels about you. If he speaks favorably about you, I will let you know.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 12 , Then Jonathan told David, 'I promise by the LORD, the God of Israel, that by this time tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, I will talk to my father and let you know at once how he feels about you. If he speaks favorably about you, I will let you know.
20:13 But if he is angry and wants you killed, may the LORD kill me if I don't warn you so you can escape and live. May the LORD be with you as he used to be with my father.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 13 , But if he is angry and wants you killed, may the LORD kill me if I don't warn you so you can escape and live. May the LORD be with you as he used to be with my father.
20:14 And may you treat me with the faithful love of the LORD as long as I live. But if I die,
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 14 , And may you treat me with the faithful love of the LORD as long as I live. But if I die,
20:15 treat my family with this faithful love, even when the LORD destroys all your enemies.'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 15 , treat my family with this faithful love, even when the LORD destroys all your enemies.'
20:16 So Jonathan made a covenant with David, saying, 'May the LORD destroy all your enemies!'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 16 , So Jonathan made a covenant with David, saying, 'May the LORD destroy all your enemies!'
20:17 And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 17 , And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.
20:18 Then Jonathan said, 'Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. You will be missed when your place at the table is empty.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 18 , Then Jonathan said, 'Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. You will be missed when your place at the table is empty.
20:19 The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid before, and wait there by the stone pile.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 19 , The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid before, and wait there by the stone pile.
20:20 I will come out and shoot three arrows to the side of the stone pile as though I were shooting at a target.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 20 , I will come out and shoot three arrows to the side of the stone pile as though I were shooting at a target.
20:21 Then I will send a boy to bring the arrows back. If you hear me tell him, `They're on this side,' then you will know, as surely as the LORD lives, that all is well, and there is no trouble.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 21 , Then I will send a boy to bring the arrows back. If you hear me tell him, `They're on this side,' then you will know, as surely as the LORD lives, that all is well, and there is no trouble.
20:22 But if I tell him, `Go farther--the arrows are still ahead of you,' then it will mean that you must leave immediately, for the LORD is sending you away.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 22 , But if I tell him, `Go farther--the arrows are still ahead of you,' then it will mean that you must leave immediately, for the LORD is sending you away.
20:23 And may the LORD make us keep our promises to each other, for he has witnessed them.'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 23 , And may the LORD make us keep our promises to each other, for he has witnessed them.'
20:24 So David hid himself in the field, and when the new moon festival began, the king sat down to eat.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 24 , So David hid himself in the field, and when the new moon festival began, the king sat down to eat.
20:25 He sat at his usual place against the wall, with Jonathan sitting opposite him and Abner beside him. But David's place was empty.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 25 , He sat at his usual place against the wall, with Jonathan sitting opposite him and Abner beside him. But David's place was empty.
20:26 Saul didn't say anything about it that day, for he said to himself, 'Something must have made David ceremonially unclean. Yes, that must be why he's not here.'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 26 , Saul didn't say anything about it that day, for he said to himself, 'Something must have made David ceremonially unclean. Yes, that must be why he's not here.'
20:27 But when David's place was empty again the next day, Saul asked Jonathan, 'Why hasn't the son of Jesse been here for dinner either yesterday or today?'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 27 , But when David's place was empty again the next day, Saul asked Jonathan, 'Why hasn't the son of Jesse been here for dinner either yesterday or today?'
20:28 Jonathan replied, 'David earnestly asked me if he could go to Bethlehem.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 28 , Jonathan replied, 'David earnestly asked me if he could go to Bethlehem.
20:29 He wanted to take part in a family sacrifice. His brother demanded that he be there, so I told him he could go. That's why he isn't here.'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 29 , He wanted to take part in a family sacrifice. His brother demanded that he be there, so I told him he could go. That's why he isn't here.'
20:30 Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. 'You stupid son of a whore!' he swore at him. 'Do you think I don't know that you want David to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 30 , Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. 'You stupid son of a whore!' he swore at him. 'Do you think I don't know that you want David to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?
20:31 As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you'll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 31 , As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you'll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!'
20:32 'But what has he done?' Jonathan demanded. 'Why should he be put to death?'
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 32 , 'But what has he done?' Jonathan demanded. 'Why should he be put to death?'
20:33 Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 33 , Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.
20:34 Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat all that day, for he was crushed by his father's shameful behavior toward David.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 34 , Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat all that day, for he was crushed by his father's shameful behavior toward David.
20:35 The next morning, as agreed, Jonathan went out into the field and took a young boy with him to gather his arrows.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 35 , The next morning, as agreed, Jonathan went out into the field and took a young boy with him to gather his arrows.
20:36 'Start running,' he told the boy, 'so you can find the arrows as I shoot them.' So the boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 36 , 'Start running,' he told the boy, 'so you can find the arrows as I shoot them.' So the boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.
20:37 When the boy had almost reached the arrow, Jonathan shouted, 'The arrow is still ahead of you.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 37 , When the boy had almost reached the arrow, Jonathan shouted, 'The arrow is still ahead of you.
20:38 Hurry, hurry, don't wait.' So the boy quickly gathered up the arrows and ran back to his master.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 38 , Hurry, hurry, don't wait.' So the boy quickly gathered up the arrows and ran back to his master.
20:39 He, of course, didn't understand what Jonathan meant; only Jonathan and David knew.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 39 , He, of course, didn't understand what Jonathan meant; only Jonathan and David knew.
20:40 Then Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy and told him to take them back to the city.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 40 , Then Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy and told him to take them back to the city.
20:41 As soon as the boy was gone, David came out from where he had been hiding near the stone pile. Then David bowed to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 41 , As soon as the boy was gone, David came out from where he had been hiding near the stone pile. Then David bowed to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David.
20:42 At last Jonathan said to David, 'Go in peace, for we have made a pact in the LORD's name. We have entrusted each other and each other's children into the LORD's hands forever.' Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the city.
The NLT Book of 1Samuel , Chapter 20 , Verse 42 , At last Jonathan said to David, 'Go in peace, for we have made a pact in the LORD's name. We have entrusted each other and each other's children into the LORD's hands forever.' Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the city.
