25. He sat in his usual place by the wall. Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to Saul. But David's place was empty.
26. Saul didn't say anything that day. He said to himself, "Something must have happened to David to make him 'unclean.' That must be why he isn't here."
27. But the next day, David's place was empty again. It was the second day of the month. Finally, Saul spoke to his son Jonathan. He said, "Why hasn't the son of Jesse come to the meal? He hasn't been here yesterday or today."
28. Jonathan replied, "David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem.
29. He said, 'Let me go. Our family is offering a sacrifice in the town. My brother has ordered me to be there. Are you pleased with me? If you are, let me go and see my brothers.' That's why he hasn't come to eat at your table."
30. Saul burned with anger against Jonathan. He said to him, "You are an evil son. You have refused to obey me. I know that you are on the side of Jesse's son. You should be ashamed of that. And your mother should be ashamed of having a son like you.
31. You will never be king as long as Jesse's son lives on this earth. And you will never have a kingdom either. So send for the son of Jesse. Bring him to me. He must die!"
32. "Why do you want to put him to death?" Jonathan asked his father. "What has he done?"
33. But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father wanted to kill David.
34. So Jonathan got up from the table. He was burning with anger. On that second day of the month, he refused to eat. He was very sad that his father was treating David so badly.
35. The next morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. He took a young boy with him.
36. He said to the boy, "Run and find the arrows I shoot." As the boy ran, Jonathan shot an arrow far beyond him.