撒母耳記上20章24-42節
撒母耳記上20章24-42節: 講義(龍漢泉弟兄）
大衛終與掃羅分離
掃羅三番五次的逼迫大衛，要置他於死地。但神保守大衛，每次都從掃羅的網羅中逃脫出來。今天所要查考的，就是大衛決定離開掃羅，離開自己的家，開始到處流亡的情形。
從前面幾章的記載當中我們可以看到，掃羅對大衛的迫害越來越厲害。他不但自己想要動手殺死大衛，也下令手下捉拿大衛。迫害甚至到一個地步，大衛不得不逃到撒母耳那邊尋求幫助。
如今終於到了要攤牌的地步。作為掃羅的近衛及女婿，大衛每個月初必須與掃羅一起吃飯。鑑於過去數次的經驗，大衛察覺到掃羅很可能會利用這次機會殺死他，因此大衛必須要為以後的道路預先做好計劃。這也是我們上一次查經裡面提到的，大衛和約拿單做了一些安排和準備，就是為了應付一些突發的狀況。今天要查的就是看見整個的情況是如何的發展，到最後大衛的離開。
I. 大衛連續缺席二日（24-29）
20:24 大衛就去藏在田野。到了初一日，王坐席要吃飯。
20:25 王照常坐在靠牆的位上，約拿單侍立，押尼珥坐在掃羅旁邊，大衛的座位空設。
20:26 然而這日掃羅沒有說甚麼，他想大衛遇事，偶染不潔，他必定是不潔。
20:27 初二日大衛的座位還空設。掃羅問他兒子約拿單說：「耶西的兒子為何昨日、今日沒有來吃飯呢？」
20:28 約拿單回答掃羅說：「大衛切求我容他往伯利恆去。
20:29 他說：『求你容我去，因為我家在城裏有獻祭的事；我長兄吩咐我去。如今我若在你眼前蒙恩，求你容我去見我的弟兄』；所以大衛沒有赴王的席。」
24『大衛就去藏在田野』
這就是19 節的時候約拿單對大衛所說的地方，也就是大衛第一次躲藏的地方（以色磐石）（19:1-3）。20:19 你等三日，就要速速下去，到你從前遇事所藏的地方，在以色磐石那裏等候。
25『靠牆的位上，約拿單侍立』
掃羅坐在靠牆的位上，應該是正對門口的座位，是最尊貴的位子。也有人認為這是最安全的位子，因為後面有牆保護。『約拿單侍立』是希伯來文譯本。七十士譯本作『約拿單（坐）在對面』。這可能比較合理。約拿單畢竟是王子，是要繼承王位的（參20:31 耶西的兒子若在世間活着，你和你的國位必站立不住），應該在這種御宴中有一席之地（參34 約拿單氣忿忿地從席上起來）。
『押尼珥坐在掃羅旁邊』
押尼珥是掃羅的堂兄弟和他的元帥，因此也有資格坐在席上。
撒上14:50掃羅的妻名叫亞希暖，是亞希瑪斯的女兒。掃羅的元帥名叫押尼珥，是尼珥的兒子；尼珥是掃羅的叔叔。
26『大衛遇事，偶染不潔』 這裡的不潔就是律法上規定的一些禮儀上不潔淨的事，和道德無關。通常這些不潔需要持續一整天，並且要洗澡才能潔淨。參利未記15章。掃羅以為大衛是沾染了這種不潔，所以要等到第二天才能夠來參加御宴。這也證明當時的以色列人多多少少還是願意遵守律法上的規定，雖然很可能只是禮儀上面的規定。掃羅也是如此，他雖然表面重視這些禮儀規矩，但卻離棄那設立禮儀規矩的主，真是捨本逐末。
從屬靈上來講，我們雖然在生命上已經成聖，但我們仍然生活在這個世界上，難免會沾染世俗的東西。所以我們要常常反省檢討自己，看有什麼污穢沒有，然後靠著耶穌的寶血求神赦免潔淨。就如耶穌所說的，已經洗過澡的人，只要把腳一洗，全身就乾淨了。
27『初二日大衛的座位還空設』 根據律法一般的不潔淨，只要經過清潔的儀式之後，第2天就應該恢復正常。但現在大衛到了第2天還沒出現，很顯然不是因為不潔淨的關係。掃羅覺得事情不太對，因此才詢問約拿單。
『耶西的兒子』 掃羅不直接稱大衛的名字，而用耶西的兒子稱呼，有人認為這是輕蔑的意思。
29『因為我家在城裏有獻祭的事』
這是當時大衛和約拿單約定好的藉口。20:6你父親若見我不在席上，你就說：『大衛切求我許他回本城伯利恆去，因為他全家在那裏獻年祭。』這讓我們想到當年撒母耳去膏大衛的時候，也是用同樣的藉口來到伯利恆。16:5 他說：「為平安來的，我是給耶和華獻祭。你們當自潔，來與我同吃祭肉。」撒母耳就使耶西和他眾子自潔，請他們來吃祭肉。很顯然當時獻祭是一件大事，這也證明以色列人心中多多少少還敬畏神。因此當人以獻祭為名義做事的時候，別人一般都不會拒絕。
我們今天是否也是強調遵守某些條例勝過神的旨意？有什麼例子？
我們應當如何分辨與改進？
我們在生活裡面是不是偶爾會隨從世俗，以至於沾染了污穢？
你覺得在生活裡面最容易沾染污穢是什麼？你曾經為此尋求神的幫助嗎？
我們要怎麼樣才能夠查驗自己，來到神面前尋求潔淨？
II. 掃羅怒責約拿單（30-34）
20:30 掃羅向約拿單發怒，對他說：「你這頑梗（perverse）悖逆之婦人所生的，我豈不知道你喜悅耶西的兒子，自取羞辱，以致你母親露體蒙羞嗎？
20:31 耶西的兒子若在世間活着，你和你的國位必站立不住。現在你要打發人去，將他捉拿交給我；他是該死的。」
20:32 約拿單對父親掃羅說：「他為甚麼該死呢？他做了甚麼呢？」
20:33 掃羅向約拿單掄槍要刺他，約拿單就知道他父親決意要殺大衛。
20:34 於是約拿單氣忿忿地從席上起來，在這初二日沒有吃飯。他因見父親羞辱大衛，就為大衛愁煩。
30『頑梗悖逆之婦人』
頑梗原文可翻作『反常、變態perverse』。這是一種非常藐視、輕賤的話語，但掃羅卻是如此稱呼自己的妻子。可見掃羅的心態已經極度的扭曲了，他滿腦子都充滿了對大衛的仇恨與忌妒，甚至將這種仇恨發散到周圍的人身上。有人認為頑梗悖逆乃是指著約拿單說的，但原文的確是描述『婦人』。我們都能夠了解人在極端憤怒或怨恨的時候，常常會不經思索的出口傷人。但我們可曾想過，我們所說的每一句話將來在神面前都要被審問。這也是為什麼聖經一再地強調，說話要謹慎。雅各書甚至說，若有人在言語上沒有過失，他就是完全人。雅3:2 原來我們在許多事上都有過失；若有人在話語上沒有過失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。
31『你和你的國位必站立不住』
聖經並沒有說掃羅已經知道撒母耳膏立大衛作王，但他可能有預感，覺得大衛將來會取代他的王位。掃羅也許還記得撒母耳對他說的話：撒上13:14 現在你的王位必不長久。耶和華已經尋着一個合他心意的人，立他作百姓的君，因為你沒有遵守耶和華所吩咐你的。並且認為大衛可能就是這個人。他甚至認為將來大衛不但要奪取王位，還會殺害約拿單，因此他很生氣約拿單竟然幫助敵人。這完全是以小人之心度君子之腹。不論如何，掃羅對撒母耳所說的話顯然不認同，他仍然想靠著自己的方法來維持他的王位。從他的對話當中可以知道，他清楚約拿單與大衛之間的友情，但他認為大衛對於王位的覬覦勝過對約拿單的感情，因此他說『你和你的國位必站立不住』。
32『他為甚麼該死呢？他做了甚麼呢？』
約拿單不但是因為私人的感情這樣質問掃羅，這其實也是一個非常客觀的問題。大衛從頭到尾都沒有做過對掃羅或是以色列國不利的事情，反而是經常帶領以色列人戰勝仇敵。就私人來說，他能夠彈琴幫助掃羅舒緩自己的情緒，他同時也是掃羅的女婿。在上一次約拿單為大衛向掃羅求情的時候特別提到『撒上19:4-5「王不可得罪王的僕人大衛；因為他未曾得罪你，他所行的都與你大有益處。他拚命殺那非利士人，耶和華為以色列眾人大行拯救；那時你看見，甚是歡喜，現在為何無故要殺大衛，流無辜人的血，自己取罪呢？」』約拿單不顧父親的憤怒，直接質問掃羅要殺大衛的原因。因為他實在想不出大衛有什麼該死的理由，更不明白掃羅為什麼這樣仇視大衛。他也許是因為上一次他為大衛求情，掃羅也接受了，所以他想可能仍然能夠挽回父親的憤怒。卻不料這一次掃羅鐵了心，一定要置大衛於死地。
33『掃羅向約拿單掄槍要刺他』
當一個人被仇恨充滿甚至控制的時候，很容易就做出一些瘋狂的事情來。掃羅這個時候甚至毫無理智的想要殺死自己的兒子，這是一件多麼可怕的事情。一個人如果不能夠被聖靈掌管的話，凡事都是隨心所欲，結果也不會比掃羅好到哪裡去。人的罪性一旦無止境地釋放出來，一切邪惡的事情都有可能發生。今天人類社會還能夠維持，因為神仍然憐憫我
們。當哪一天神任憑我們為所欲為的時候，也就是神審判的日子到了。也因著這件事，約拿單明白了父親對大衛的仇恨，知道『他父親決意要殺大衛』。
當時押尼珥應該也在現場，然而我們發現在這件事上他似乎完全袖手旁觀，沒有勸解，沒有攔阻，也是一件很奇怪的事。作為兄弟和叔伯，他豈不是應當出面調解嗎？難道是迫於掃羅的淫威不敢發言嗎？
34『羞辱大衛』
掃羅一方面說約拿單及他母親會因大衛受羞辱，一方面說將來大衛會搶奪約拿單的王位。他完全沒有想到大衛對他的忠誠以及對以色列的功績。這兩件莫須有的罪名加在大衛身上，是一件很恥辱的事。因此約拿單為大衛憂傷（愁煩, grieve）。
當掃羅說出『頑梗悖逆之婦人』的時候，他的心態是怎麼樣？對我們有什麼警惕？
我平時對與言語的控制如何？我是不是想說什麼就說什麼，覺得自己很直爽？聖經對言語有哪些教導？
掃羅認為大衛將來會篡位並殺害約拿單，為什麼？約拿單的反應是什麼？
掃羅向約拿單掄槍要刺他，證明他的狀況如何？對我們有什麼警惕？
我如果是押尼珥，我當時會怎麼做？為什麼？
當我們在生氣的時候應當怎麼做？有什麼生活的例子嗎？
III. 約拿單通知大衛離開（35-42）
20:35 次日早晨，約拿單按着與大衛約會的時候出到田野，有一個童子跟隨。
20:36 約拿單對童子說：「你跑去，把我所射的箭找來。」童子跑去，約拿單就把箭射在童子前頭。
20:37 童子到了約拿單落箭之地，約拿單呼叫童子說：「箭不是在你前頭嗎？」
20:38 約拿單又呼叫童子說：「速速地去，不要遲延！」童子就拾起箭來，回到主人那裏。
20:39 童子卻不知道這是甚麼意思，只有約拿單和大衛知道。
20:40 約拿單將弓箭交給童子，吩咐說：「你拿到城裏去。」
20:41 童子一去，大衛就從磐石的南邊出來，俯伏在地，拜了三拜；二人親嘴，彼此哭泣，大衛哭得更慟。（until David wept immeasurably）
20:42 約拿單對大衛說：「我們二人曾指着耶和華的名起誓說：『願耶和華在你我中間，並你我後裔中間為證，直到永遠。』如今你平平安安地去吧！」大衛就起身走了；約拿單也回城裏去了。
35『按着與大衛約會的時候出到田野』
就是兩天前（20:5 大衛對約拿單說：明日是初一，我當與王同席，求你容我去藏在田野，直到第三日晚上。）大衛與約拿單約定好的日子（20:19 你等三日，就要速速下去，到你從前遇事所藏的地方，在以色磐石那裏等候）。
36-38『約拿單就把箭射在童子前頭…箭不是在你前頭嗎？…速速地去，不要遲延！』
這正是大衛與約拿單約定好的暗號。（20:21-22我要打發童子，說：『去把箭找來。』我若對童子說：『箭在後頭，把箭拿來』，你就可以回來；我指着永生的耶和華起誓，你必平安無事。我若對童子說：『箭在前頭』，你就要去，因為是耶和華打發你去的。）我們常說大衛有耶和華的同在，所以屢次逃脫掃羅的追殺。就如前一次掃羅派人到拉瑪的拿約去捉拿大衛，以及後來他自己親自去捉拿，結果神使他們都說預言，完全不能自主。然而不是神每一次的搭救都是用超自然的方式，就像這一次神是使用大衛和約拿單的智慧，他們所定下的計謀，成功的逃離了掃羅的網羅。神的智慧和能力遠遠超過我們的想像，所以我們不要限制神的作為，以為神一定是如此如此做事，除非聖經明文說到神要如此行。事實上大部分的時候神都是使用人來完成他的作為，而不是使用神蹟奇事。神可能藉著一位屬靈夥伴，也可能借著一句話、一段經文、一件小事來安慰我們，讓我們有力量在信心受考驗的過程中站立得住。所以那些經常想要看到神蹟奇事的人要特別留心，免得中了魔鬼的詭計。
40『你拿到城裏去』
暗號已經遞過去了，兩個人就要分別了，因此約拿單就將少年人打發回城去了。
41『大衛哭得更慟』
NASB翻成until David wept immeasurably，換句話說，大衛哀傷的程度已經無法用言語形容了。兩個人感情的深厚由此可見一斑。而且從此以後大衛就要亡命天涯，可能再也見不到約拿單了，因此他們兩個人都深感生離死別的痛苦。事實上從撒母耳記裡我們知道，以後他們兩個人只見過一次面（撒上23:14-18），然後一直到約拿單陣亡都沒有再會面。大衛從此遠離故鄉和家人，並且成了朝廷追捕的欽犯，被危險和患難追逼，直到掃羅被殺後才終止逃亡生涯。
42『我們二人曾指着耶和華的名起誓』
應該就是20章前面他們兩個約定暗號的時候所起的誓。20:14-16你要照耶和華的慈愛恩待我，不但我活着的時候免我死亡，就是我死後，耶和華從地上剪除你仇敵的時候，你也永不可向我家絕了恩惠。」於是約拿單與大衛家結盟，說：「願耶和華藉大衛的仇敵追討背約的罪。」當時的起誓其實是非常的嚴肅的一件事，不像我們現在發誓當家常便飯一樣。舊約中連神自己都起誓，來強調他的應許是不改變的。參來7:21, 6:17。一個人一旦起誓之後就必須遵誓而行，即使後來發現吃虧，也不能更改。參詩15:4他眼中藐視匪類，卻尊重那敬畏耶和華的人。他發了誓，雖然自己吃虧也不更改。大衛就是看重誓言的人。他作王以後遵守誓言，恩待約拿單的兒子米非波設，將掃羅的一切田地都歸還他，他也常與大衛同席吃飯。參撒下第九章。
事實上耶穌甚至更進一步教導我們說，根本不要起誓。說話的時候，是就說是，不是就說不是。不要欺騙人去得利益，而且說話算話，像神一樣信實。換句話說，我們每一句話都像以前的人發誓一樣，沒有任何謊言。
神幫助人的時候總是用神蹟奇事嗎？我親身的體會是什麼？是否大部分時候都是藉著人來幫助我們？
神為什麼賜我們智慧聰明？我們應該如何使用我們的智慧聰明？
你覺得今天的人和古代的人相比，是更誠實還是更虛假？為什麼？我自己在成長的過程中，是越來越誠實還是越來越虛假？
從大衛與約拿單的友情當中，我們可以學到什麼功課？對於弟兄彼此相愛有什麼啟發？
今天的查經對我有什麼幫助？我願意在未來一週做出什麼改變嗎？
20:24 大衛就去藏在田野。到了初一日，王坐席要吃飯。
20:25 王照常坐在靠牆的位上，約拿單侍立，押尼珥坐在掃羅旁邊，大衛的座位空設。
20:26 然而這日掃羅沒有說甚麼，他想大衛遇事，偶染不潔，他必定是不潔。
20:27 初二日大衛的座位還空設。掃羅問他兒子約拿單說：「耶西的兒子為何昨日、今日沒有來吃飯呢？」
20:28 約拿單回答掃羅說：「大衛切求我容他往伯利恆去。
20:29 他說：『求你容我去，因為我家在城裏有獻祭的事；我長兄吩咐我去。如今我若在你眼前蒙恩，求你容我去見我的弟兄』；所以大衛沒有赴王的席。」
20:30 掃羅向約拿單發怒，對他說：「你這頑梗悖逆之婦人所生的，我豈不知道你喜悅耶西的兒子，自取羞辱，以致你母親露體蒙羞嗎？
20:31 耶西的兒子若在世間活着，你和你的國位必站立不住。現在你要打發人去，將他捉拿交給我；他是該死的。」
20:32 約拿單對父親掃羅說：「他為甚麼該死呢？他做了甚麼呢？」
20:33 掃羅向約拿單掄槍要刺他，約拿單就知道他父親決意要殺大衛。
20:34 於是約拿單氣忿忿地從席上起來，在這初二日沒有吃飯。他因見父親羞辱大衛，就為大衛愁煩。
20:35 次日早晨，約拿單按着與大衛約會的時候出到田野，有一個童子跟隨。
20:36 約拿單對童子說：「你跑去，把我所射的箭找來。」童子跑去，約拿單就把箭射在童子前頭。
20:37 童子到了約拿單落箭之地，約拿單呼叫童子說：「箭不是在你前頭嗎？」
20:38 約拿單又呼叫童子說：「速速地去，不要遲延！」童子就拾起箭來，回到主人那裏。
20:39 童子卻不知道這是甚麼意思，只有約拿單和大衛知道。
20:40 約拿單將弓箭交給童子，吩咐說：「你拿到城裏去。」
20:41 童子一去，大衛就從(磐石)的南邊出來，俯伏在地，拜了三拜；二人親嘴，彼此哭泣，大衛哭得更慟。
20:42 約拿單對大衛說：「我們二人曾指着耶和華的名起誓說：『願耶和華在你我中間，並你我後裔中間(為證)，直到永遠。』如今你平平安安地去吧！」大衛就起身走了；約拿單也回城裏去了。
NIV
24 So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat.
25 He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan,[a] and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty.
26 Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.”
27 But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem.
29 He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”
30 Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you?
31 As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”
32 “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father.
33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David.
34 Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.
35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him,
36 and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37 When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?”
38 Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master.
39 (The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.)
40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”
41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.
42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.[b]
Footnotes
a. 1 Samuel 20:25 Septuagint; Hebrew wall. Jonathan arose
b. 1 Samuel 20:42 In Hebrew texts this sentence (20:42b) is numbered 21:1.
ESV
24 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.
25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite,[e] and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty.
26 Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.”
27 But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem.
29 He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king's table.”
30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not 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, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.”
32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.
35 In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy.
36 And he said to his boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37 And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?”
38 And Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!” So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master.
39 But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.
40 And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.”
41 And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap[f] and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most.
42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.[g]
Footnotes
e. 1 Samuel 20:25 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew stood up
f. 1 Samuel 20:41 Septuagint; Hebrew from beside the south
g. 1 Samuel 20:42 This sentence is 21:1 in Hebrew
NASB
24 So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.
25 Now the king sat on his seat as usual, the seat by the wall; then Jonathan stood up and Abner sat down by Saul’s side; but David’s place was empty.
26 Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, because he thought, “It must have been an [p]accident; he is not clean, undoubtedly he is not clean.”
27 But it came about the next day, the second day of the new moon, that David’s place was empty again; so Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
28 And Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly requested leave of me to go to Bethlehem.
29 He said, ‘Please let me go, because our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has ordered me to attend. So now, if I have found favor in your sight, please let me slip away so that I may see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.”
30 Then Saul’s anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you are choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
31 For, [q]as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now then, send men and bring him to me, for he is [r]doomed to die!”
32 But Jonathan replied to his father Saul and said to him, “Why must he be put to death? What has he done?
33 Then Saul hurled his spear at him to strike and kill him; so Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to death.
34 Then Jonathan got up from the table in the heat of a” ,nger and did not eat food on the second day of the new moon, because he was worried about David since his father had insulted him.
35 Now it came about in the morning that Jonathan went out to the field at the time agreed upon with David, and a little boy was with him.
36 He said to his boy, “Run, find now the arrows which I am about to shoot.” The boy ran, and he shot [s]an arrow past him.
37 When the boy reached the location of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is the arrow not beyond you?”
38 Then Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry, be quick, do not stay!” And Jonathan’s boy picked up the arrow and came to his master.
39 But the boy was not aware of anything; only Jonathan and David knew about the matter.
40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go, bring them to the city.”
41 When the boy was gone, David got up from the south side, then he fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed each other and wept together, until David wept immeasurably.
42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go [t]in safety, since we have sworn to each other in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD will be between me and you, and between my [u]descendants and your [v]descendants forever.’” [w]So David set out and went on his way, while Jonathan went into the city.
Footnotes
p. 1 Samuel 20:26 I.e., accident of ritual pollution
q. 1 Samuel 20:31 Lit all the days which
r. 1 Samuel 20:31 Lit a son of death
s. 1 Samuel 20:36 Lit the
t. 1 Samuel 20:42 Lit to peace
u. 1 Samuel 20:42 Lit seed
v. 1 Samuel 20:42 Lit seed
w. 1 Samuel 20:42 Ch 21:1 in Heb