16. So Jonathan made this agreement with David and his family, and he asked the Lord to hold them responsible for keeping it.
17. Jonathan loved David as himself, and because of this love, he asked David to repeat this agreement for himself.
18. Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon celebration. Your seat will be empty, so my father will see that you are gone.
19. On the third day go to the same place you hid when this trouble began. Wait by that hill.
20. On the third day I will go to that hill and shoot three arrows as if I am shooting at a target.
21. Then I will tell the boy to go find the arrows. If everything is fine, I will tell the boy, ‘You went too far! The arrows are closer to me. Come back and get them.’ If I say that, you can come out of hiding. I promise, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe. There is no danger.
22. But if there is trouble, I will say to the boy, ‘The arrows are farther away. Go get them.’ If I say that, you must leave. The Lord is sending you away.
23. Remember this agreement between you and me. The Lord is our witness forever.”
24. Then David hid in the field. The time for the New Moon celebration came, and the king sat down to eat.
25. He sat next to the wall where he usually sat, and Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty.
26. That day Saul said nothing. He thought, “Maybe something happened to David so that he is not clean.”
27. On the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why didn’t Jesse’s son come to the New Moon celebration yesterday or today?”
28. Jonathan answered, “David asked me to let him go to Bethlehem.
29. He said, ‘Let me go. Our family is having a sacrifice in Bethlehem. My brother ordered me to be there. Now if I am your friend, please let me go and see my brothers.’ That is why David has not come to the king’s table.”
30. Saul was very angry with Jonathan and said to him, “You son of a twisted, rebellious woman! I know that you have chosen to support that son of Jesse. This will bring shame to you and to your mother.
31. As long as Jesse’s son lives, you will never be king and have a kingdom. Now, bring David to me! He is a dead man.”