1 Samuel 20

1 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] fled [ran away quickly, escaped] from Naioth [a community of prophets, a dwelling place of prophets] in Ramah [a city in Palestine, a place of battle]. He came [approached, went to] to Jonathan [Jehonathan, a son of King Saul, a friend of David] and asked [said, spoke], “What [how, in what way] have I done [made, committed]? What [how, in what way] is my iniquity [moral evil, sin]? How [in what way] have I sinned [committed sin, done wrong] against your father [your ancestor, your parent], that he wants [seeks, desires] to take [destroy, kill] my life [my soul, my living being]?” word study 2 “Far from it [God forbid, nothing like that]!” Jonathan replied. “You will not [certainly not, by no means] die. Indeed, my father [Abba, my loving father] does nothing, great [of utmost importance] or small [insignificant, of little account], without telling [informing, making known] me. So why would he hide [conceal, keep secret] this matter [thing, affair, word] from me? This [such a thing, this situation] cannot be true [it is not so, not at all]!” word study 3 But David again [swore an oath, solemnly vowed] vowed, “Your father [abba, a term of endearment and respect] knows very well that I have found [discovered, attained] favor [graciousness, kindness, hen] in your eyes [the window to the soul], and he has said, ‘Jonathan [Jehonathan, God has given] must not know [be aware, perceive] of this, or he will be [deeply] grieved [hurt, pained, yeatshev].’ As surely as the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] lives [is alive, has life] and as you yourself live [have life, are alive], there is but a [single, small] step [pace, stride] between me and death [the end of life, separation from God].” word study 4 Then Jonathan [a friend and son of King Saul] said to David, “Whatever [whatsoever thy soul desireth] you desire [your heart’s wish], I will do [make, accomplish, bring about] for you [on your behalf, as a gift].” word study 5 So David told him, “Look [behold, pay attention], tomorrow [the day after today] is the New Moon [a time of new beginnings, a lunar festival], and I am supposed [expected, required] to dine [eat, have a meal] with the king [the ruler, the monarch]. Instead [as an alternative], let me go [allow me to depart, give me permission to leave] and hide [conceal myself, be hidden] in the field [a rural area, a place of solitude] until [as far as, up to] the third [the next, the following] evening [the time of sunset, the end of the day] from now [at this present time]. word study 6 If your father [at all, in any way] misses me at all, tell him, ‘David [earnestly, with urgency] urgently requested my permission [asked leave of me, inquired of me] to hurry [to run, to rush] to Bethlehem [his city], his [own, ancestral] hometown, because there is an annual [yearly, every year] sacrifice [offering, gift to God] for his whole [entire, all] clan [family, tribe].’ word study 7 If he says, ‘Good [It is well, all is fine],’ then your servant [slave, one who serves] is safe [will have peace, experience shalom], but if he is enraged [very wroth, extremely angry], you will know [be aware, understand] he has evil [bad, morally wrong] intentions [a determined purpose, a plan to harm]. word study 8 Therefore deal faithfully [with kindness and loyalty] with your servant [one who serves and obeys], for you have brought me into a covenant [a solemn agreement, a bond of promise] with you before the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. If there is iniquity [moral evil, sin] in me, then kill me yourself [put me to death, slay me]; why should you bring me to your father [your earthly father]?” word study 9 “Never [Far be it from thee, God forbid]!” Jonathan [Jehonathan, Jehovah has given] replied. “If [whether or not] I ever found out [knew certainly, discovered] that my father [parent, ancestor] had evil [bad, wicked] intentions [purposes, plans] against you, would I not [certainly not, by no means] tell [declare, inform] you [reveal to you, make known]?” word study 10 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] asked Jonathan [Jehonathan, a son of King Saul and a friend of David], “Who [what person, or possibly, under what circumstances] will tell [declare, inform, or make known] me if your father [Abraham’s term for God, or one’s male parent] answers [responds, or gives a reply] you harshly [cruelly, severely, or roughly, with a severe or unkind manner]?” word study 11 “Come [let us go together],” he replied, “let us go out [to walk, to move from one place to another] to the field [a flat area of land, a place of cultivation].” So the two [a pair, a duality] of them went out [to come out, to leave a place] into the field [the land, the countryside], word study 12 and Jonathan [Jehonathan, meaning ‘Jehovah has given’] said, “By the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], I will sound out [search, examine closely] my father by this time tomorrow [at this time the day after] or the next day [the third day]. If he is favorable [good, pleasant] toward you, will I not send [depart, dispatch] for you and tell [reveal, disclose] you? word study 13 But if my father intends [plans, purposes] to bring evil [harm, adversity] on you, then may the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] punish me, and ever so severely [very harshly, exceedingly], if I do not tell [reveal, disclose] you and send [dispatch, release] you on your way in safety [peace, well-being]. May the LORD [the supreme God] be with [accompany, assist] you, just as He has been with [accompanied, supported] my father. word study 14 And as long as I live [while I still breathe, during my lifetime], treat me with the LORD’s [Yehovah, the covenant God] loving devotion [kindness, mercy], that I may not die [perish, come to an end], word study 15 and do not ever [completely or utterly] cut off your loving devotion [kindness, mercy, or pity] from my household [family, descendants]—not even when the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] cuts off every one of David’s enemies [adversaries, those who hate or oppose] from the face [presence, sight] of the earth [land, ground].” word study 16 So Jonathan [Jehonathan, God has given] made a covenant [agreement, solemn promise] with the house [family, dwelling place] of David, saying, “May the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] hold [require, seek from] David’s enemies [adversaries, those who oppose] accountable [responsible, to seek from their hand].” word study 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm [repeat, swear again] his vow out of [because of, motivated by] love [ahab, affection or devotion] for him, for Jonathan loved [had affection for, cherished] David as he loved [with the same intensity as] himself [his own soul, his own life]. word study 18 Then Jonathan [Jehonathan, meaning ‘Jehovah has given’] said to David, “Tomorrow [the day after today, a future time] is the New Moon [the first day of the month, a lunar cycle], and you will be missed [looked for, reckoned with] if your seat [place of sitting, gathering, or dwelling] is empty [without an occupant, unattended]. word study 19 When you have stayed [remained, dwelled] three days [a period of waiting, a time of testing], hurry [go down quickly, descend swiftly] down to the place [location, spot] you hid [concealed, covered yourself] on the day [time, occasion] this trouble [deed, action] began, and remain [dwell, sit] beside [near, close to] the stone [rock, memorial] Ezel [the departure, a monument]. word study 20 I [the speaker, David] will shoot [to show or teach, sending out] three [a specific quantity, thrice] arrows [sharp projectiles shot from a bow] to the side [the area adjacent to, near] of it, as if [in the manner of, as though] I were aiming [shooting, directing] at a target [a mark, a guardhouse, or prison, a place of watchful attention]. word study 21 Then I will send [dispatch, commission] a boy [youth, young servant] and say, ‘Go, find [search for, discover] the arrows [projectiles, missiles]!’ Now, if I expressly [clearly, explicitly] say to him, ‘Look [behold, see], the arrows are on this side [near, adjacent] of you; bring [take, retrieve] them,’ then come [approach, draw near], because as surely as the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] lives [exists, is alive], it is safe [secure, peaceful] for you and there is no [none, nothing] danger [harm, threat]. word study 22 But if I say to the young man [youth, a young adult], ‘Look [behold, pay attention], the arrows [sharp projectiles] are beyond you [further away, past you],’ then you must go [walk, depart], for the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] has sent you away [departed, dismissed you]. word study 23 And as for the matter [thing, affair, Chronicles] you and I have discussed [spoken of, communicated], the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is a witness [observer, overseer] between [in the midst of, among] you and me forever [always, eternally, unto the age].” word study 24 So David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] hid [to conceal himself] in the field [a flat area of land, often for cultivation], and when the New Moon [the first day of the lunar cycle] had come, the king [a royal person] sat down [to dwell, remain] to eat [to devour, consume]. word study 25 He sat [in his customary position, as at other times] in his usual place [on a seat] by the wall, opposite [across from, facing] Jonathan [Jehonathan, God has given] and beside [next to, at the side of] Abner [a prominent Israelite, cousin of King Saul], but David’s [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Israel] place [location, position] was empty [unoccupied, vacant, looked after]. word study 26 Saul [Shaul, the desired one] said nothing [not a word, remained silent] that day [a 24-hour period, a figurative space of time] because he thought [reflected, considered], “Something [an unexpected event, an accident] has happened [befallen, occurred] to David [the beloved king] to make him [cause him to be] ceremonially unclean [not pure, ritually impure]—surely [certainly, without a doubt] he is unclean [not clean, impure].” word study 27 But on the day [morrow, the next day] after the New Moon [the lunar cycle, a time of renewal], the second [again, another] day, David’s [the youngest son of Jesse, a future king] place [location, position] was still empty [unoccupied, vacant], and Saul [Shaul, the first king of Israel] asked his son Jonathan [Jehonathan, a friend of David], “Why [for what reason, on what account] hasn’t the son [descendant, offspring] of Jesse [the father of David, a member of the tribe of Judah] come to the meal [food, bread] either yesterday [a short time ago] or today [this day, now]?” word study 28 Jonathan [Jehonathan, God has given] answered, “David [the beloved king] urgently requested [earnestly asked, inquired of] my permission [leave, consent] to go [travel, journey] to Bethlehem [house of bread, city of David], word study 29 saying, ‘Please [I pray thee] let me go, because our [family] clan is holding a [sacrificial, worship] sacrifice [offering to God] in the city [town, urban area], and my brother [male sibling, close relative] has told [commanded] me to be there [present, in attendance]. So now [at this time, presently], if I have found [attained, discovered] favor [graciousness, kindness] in your eyes [sight, gaze], please [I pray thee] let me go and see [visit, look upon] my brothers [male siblings, brethren].’ That is why [for this reason, therefore] he did not come [appear, attend] to the king’s [royal, sovereign] table [place of dining, fellowship].” word study 30 Then Saul’s anger [furious, kindled] burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son [descendant] of a perverse [wicked, evil] and rebellious [disobedient, uncontrolled] woman [mother]! Do I not know [am aware, perceive] that you have chosen [selected, preferred] the son of Jesse to your own shame [confusion, disgrace] and to the disgrace [shame, reproach] of the mother [parent] who bore you [gave birth to you, nurtured you]? word study 31 For as long as the son [descendant, offspring] of Jesse [I possess, a member of the tribe of Judah] lives [has life, is alive] on this earth [land, ground], neither you [as an individual, personally] nor your kingship [royal power, authority] shall be established [set up, firmly secured]. Now [at this time, presently] send [dispatch, summon] for him and bring [take, fetch] him to me, for he must surely [certainly, without a doubt] die [experience death, succumb to mortality]!” word study 32 “Why [for what reason, on what grounds] must he be put to death [executed, slain]?” Jonathan [Jehonathan, Jehovah has given] replied. “What [what thing, what act] has he done [accomplished, committed]?” word study 33 Then Saul [Shaul, the king] hurled [cast, threw] his spear [javelin, lance] at Jonathan [Jehonathan, God has given] to kill [smite, put to death] him; so Jonathan [Jehonathan] knew [understood, perceived] that his father [parent, ancestor] was determined [resolved, purposed] to kill [slay, destroy] David [beloved, leader]. word study 34 Jonathan got up [arose, stood up] from the table [a place of community] in fierce [burning, intense] anger [a strong emotion] and did not eat [refused to consume] any food [bread or grain] that second [another] day of the month [a new moon], for he was grieved [hurt, pained] by his father’s [abiv, paternal] shameful [humiliating, insulting] treatment [behavior, actions] of David [the beloved king]. word study 35 In the morning [at the break of day, a time of new beginnings] Jonathan [Jehovah has given, a son of King Saul and a friend of David] went out [to go out, come forth] to the field [a flat area of land, a place of cultivation] for the appointment [a meeting, a sacred season] with David [a king of Israel], and a small [little, young] boy [a young person, from infancy to adolescence] was with [together, in companionship] him. word study 36 He said [to his lad, his young servant] to the boy [youth, a young person], “Run [quickly, hasten] and find [discover, locate] the arrows [sharp projectiles] I shoot [release, let loose].” And as the boy [youth, a young person] ran [rushed, moved swiftly], Jonathan shot [launched, sent forth] an arrow [a sharp projectile] beyond [past, further than] him. word study 37 When the boy [youth, a young person] reached the place [location, spot] where Jonathan’s [Jehonathan, meaning’Jehovah has given’] arrow [a sharp projectile] had fallen, Jonathan [a son of King Saul and a friend of David] called [to cry out, to summon] to him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond [further away] you [at a distance from you, further on]?” word study 38 Then Jonathan [Jehonathan, Jehovah has given] cried out, “Hurry [make speed, haste]! Make haste [to hurry, be eager]! Do not delay [stay not, tarry not]!” So the boy [youth, young person] picked up the arrow [sharp projectile, weapon] and returned to his master [lord, one in authority]. word study 39 But the [youth, young person] boy did not know anything [something, no matter how small]; only [certainly, surely] Jonathan [Jehovah has given] and David [beloved of God] knew [to learn, perceive, and understand] the [matter, affair, word] arrangement [thing, affair]. word study 40 Then Jonathan [Jehonathan, Jehovah has given] gave his equipment [article, utensil, or weapons] to the boy [youth, young person] and said, “Go [to walk, move from one place to another], take it back [carry, bring] to the city [town, settlement with a wall].” word study 41 When the young man [youth, a person from infancy to adolescence] had gone, David got up from the south [Negeb, the southern district of Judah] side of the stone, fell facedown [to the ground, prostrating himself], and bowed [in reverence and worship] three times [thrice, repeatedly]. Then he and Jonathan kissed [touched, showed affection] each other and wept [cried, shed tears] together—though David wept [exceeded in grief, was overcome with sorrow] more. word study 42 And Jonathan [Jehonathan, God has given] said to David, “Go in [depart, set out on your journey] peace [shalom, completeness and wellness], for the two of us [we two, both of us] have sworn [made a solemn oath, promised] in the name [character and reputation] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], saying, ‘May the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] be a witness [a testimony, a reminder] between you and me, and between your descendants [seed, offspring] and mine [my seed, my offspring] forever [always, for eternity].’” Then David got up and departed [left, went away], and Jonathan went back into the city [returned to the town]. word study