20:1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, 1 “What have I done? What is my offense? 2 How have I sinned before your father? For he is seeking my life!”
20:2 Jonathan 3 said to him, “By no means are you going to die! My father does nothing 4 large or small without making me aware of it. 5 Why would my father hide this matter from me? It just won’t happen!”
20:3 Taking an oath, David again 6 said, “Your father is very much aware of the fact 7 that I have found favor with you, and he has thought, 8 ‘Don’t let Jonathan know about this, or he will be upset.’ But as surely as the Lord lives and you live, there is about one step between me and death!” 20:4 Jonathan replied to David, “Tell me what I can do for you.” 9
20:5 David said to Jonathan, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and I am certainly expected to join the king for a meal. 10 You must send me away so I can hide in the field until the third evening from now.
1 tn Heb “and he came and said before Jonathan.”
2 tn Heb “What is my guilt?”
3 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jonathan) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tc The translation follows the Qere, many medieval Hebrew
5 tn Heb “without uncovering my ear.”
6 tc The LXX and the Syriac Peshitta lack the word “again.”
7 tn The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.
8 tn Heb “said,” that is, to himself. So also in v. 25.
9 tn Heb “whatever your soul says, I will do for you.”
10 tn Heb “and I must surely sit with the king to eat.” The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.