24. So David hid in the open country. On the day of the new moon, when the king sat down at the feast to dine,
25. he took his usual place against the wall. Jonathan sat facing him, while Abner sat at the king’s side. David’s place was vacant.
26. Saul, however, said nothing that day, for he thought, “He must have become unclean by accident.”
27. On the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was still vacant. So Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to table yesterday or today?”
28. Jonathan explained to Saul: “David pleaded with me to let him go to Bethlehem.