Good News Bible

1 Samuel 20:33-42 Good News Bible (GNB)

33. At that, Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, and Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.

34. Jonathan got up from the table in a rage and ate nothing that day — the second day of the New Moon Festival. He was deeply distressed about David, because Saul had insulted him.

35. The following morning Jonathan went to the fields to meet David, as they had agreed. He took a young boy with him

36. and said to him, “Run and find the arrows I'm going to shoot.” The boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

37. When the boy reached the place where the arrow had fallen, Jonathan shouted to him, “The arrow is further on!

38. Don't just stand there! Hurry up!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master,

39. not knowing what it all meant; only Jonathan and David knew.

40. Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and told him to take them back to the town.

41. After the boy had left, David got up from behind the pile of stones, fell on his knees and bowed with his face to the ground three times. Both he and Jonathan were crying as they kissed each other; David's grief was even greater than Jonathan's.

42. Then Jonathan said to David, “God be with you. The Lord will make sure that you and I, and your descendants and mine, will for ever keep the sacred promise we have made to each other.” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.