16. So Jonathan made a covenant with David’s house, saying, “The Lord will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”
17. Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18. Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
19. When you have stayed three days, go down quickly, and come to the place where you hid yourself when this started, and remain by the stone Ezel.
20. I will shoot three arrows on its side, as though I shot at a mark.
21. Behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ If I tell the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you. Take them;’ then come; for there is peace to you and no danger, as the Lord lives.
22. But if I say this to the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you;’ then go your way; for the Lord has sent you away.
23. Concerning the matter which you and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.”
24. So David hid himself in the field. When the new moon had come, the king sat himself down to eat food.
25. The king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.
26. Nevertheless Saul didn’t say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean. Surely he is not clean.”
27. On the next day after the new moon, the second day, David’s place was empty. Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why doesn’t the son of Jesse come to eat, either yesterday, or today?”
28. Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem.
29. He said, ‘Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city. My brother has commanded me to be there. Now, if I have found favour in your eyes, please let me go away and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the king’s table.”
30. Then Saul’s anger burnt against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse rebellious woman, don’t I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
31. For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you will not be established, nor will your kingdom. Therefore now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die!”