2. Jonathan answered, “That can’t be true! My father isn’t trying to kill you. My father doesn’t do anything without first telling me. It doesn’t matter how important it is, my father always tells me. Why would my father refuse to tell me that he wants to kill you? No, it is not true!”
3. But David answered, “Your father knows very well that I am your friend. Your father said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know about it. If he knows, he will tell David.’ But as surely as you and the Lord are alive, I am very close to death.”
4. Jonathan said to David, “I will do anything you want me to do.”
5. Then David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon celebration. I am supposed to eat with the king, but let me hide in the field until the evening.
6. If your father notices I am gone, tell him, ‘David wanted to go home to Bethlehem. His family is having its own feast for this monthly sacrifice. David asked me to let him run down to Bethlehem and join his family.’
7. If your father says, ‘Fine,’ then I am safe. But if your father becomes angry, you will know that he wants to hurt me.
8. Jonathan, be kind to me. I am your servant. You have made an agreement with me before the Lord. If I am guilty, you may kill me yourself, but don’t take me to your father.”
9. Jonathan answered, “No, never! If I learn that my father plans to hurt you, I will warn you.”
14-15. As long as I live, show me the same kindness the Lord does. And if I die, never stop showing this kindness to my family. Be faithful to us, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the earth.”
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.