1 Samuel 20:4-9

20:4 Jonathan replied to David, “Tell me what I can do for you.”

20:5 David said to Jonathan, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and I am certainly expected to join the king for a meal. You must send me away so I can hide in the field until the third evening from now. 20:6 If your father happens to miss me, you should say, ‘David urgently requested me to let him go to his city Bethlehem, for there is an annual sacrifice there for his entire family.’ 20:7 If he should then say, ‘That’s fine,’ then your servant is safe. But if he becomes very angry, be assured that he has decided to harm me. 20:8 You must be loyal to your servant, for you have made a covenant with your servant in the Lord’s name. If I am guilty, you yourself kill me! Why bother taking me to your father?”

20:9 Jonathan said, “Far be it from you to suggest this! If I were at all aware that my father had decided to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you about it?”


tn Heb “whatever your soul says, I will do for you.”

tn Heb “and I must surely sit with the king to eat.” The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.

tn Heb “to run.”

map For location see Map5-B1; Map7-E2; Map8-E2; Map10-B4.

tn Heb “good.”

tn Heb “know that the evil is completed from with him.”

tn Heb “and you must do loyalty.”

tn Heb “for into a covenant of the Lord you have brought your servant with you.”

tn Heb “and if there is in me guilt.”