17. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18. Then Jonathan said to David, To-morrow is the new-moon: and thou wilt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
19. And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.
20. And I will shoot three arrows on the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
21. And behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.
22. But if I say thus to the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.
23. And as to the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.
24. So David hid himself in the field: and when the new-moon had come, the king sat down to eat food.
25. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.
26. Nevertheless Saul spoke not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
27. And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said to Jonathan his son, Why cometh not the son of Jesse to eat, neither yesterday, nor to-day?
28. And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:
29. And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother he hath commanded me to be there: and now if I have found favor in thy eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not to the king's table.