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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>1 Samuel 20 GWT</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/1_samuel/20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/1_samuel/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">GWT</a> > 1 Samuel 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../1_samuel/19.htm" title="1 Samuel 19">◄</a> 1 Samuel 20 <a href="../1_samuel/21.htm" title="1 Samuel 21">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">GOD'S WORD® Translation</div><div class="chap"><p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>David fled from the pastures at Ramah, came to Jonathan, and asked, "What have I done? What crime am I guilty of? What sin have I committed against your father that he's trying to kill me?" <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Jonathan answered, "That's unthinkable! You're not going to die! My father does nothing without telling me, whether it's important or not. Why should my father hide this from me? It's just not that way." <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>But David took an oath, saying, "Your father certainly knows that you support me, so he said [to himself], 'Jonathan must not know about this. It will bring him distress.' But I solemnly swear, as the LORD and you live, I'm only one step away from death." <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Jonathan said to David, "I'll do whatever you say." <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>David replied, "Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, when I should sit and eat at the king's [table]. But let me go and hide in the countryside for two more nights. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>If your father really misses me, tell him, 'David repeatedly begged me to let him run to Bethlehem, his hometown, because his relatives are offering the annual sacrifice there.' <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>If he says, 'Good!' then I will be safe. But if he gets really angry, then you'll know for sure that he has decided to harm me. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>Now, be kind to me. After all, you forced me into an agreement with the LORD. If I have committed any crime, kill me yourself. Why bother taking me to your father?" <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Jonathan answered, "That's unthinkable! If I knew for sure that my father had decided to harm you, I would have told you about it." <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>Then David asked, "Who will tell me whether or not your father gives you a harsh answer?"</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Jonathan said, "Let's go out into the country." So they went out into the country.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>"As the LORD God of Israel [is my witness]," Jonathan continued, "I'll find out in the next two or three days how my father feels about you. If he does feel kindly toward you, then I will send someone to tell you. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>If my father plans to harm you and I fail to tell you and send you away safely, may the LORD harm me even more. May the LORD be with you as he used to be with my father. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>But as long as I live, [promise me that you will] show me kindness because of the LORD. And even when I die, <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>never stop being kind to my family. The Lord will wipe each of David's enemies off the face of the earth. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>At that time, if Jonathan's name is cut off from David's family, then may the LORD punish David's house." <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Once again Jonathan swore an oath to David because of his love for David. He loved David as much as [he loved] himself.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>"Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival," Jonathan told him, "and you will be missed when your seat is empty. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>The day after tomorrow you will be missed even more. So go to the place where you hid on that other occasion, and stay by the rock. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>I will shoot three arrows from beside it toward a target. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>Then I will send out a boy and say, 'Go, find the arrows.' Now, if I tell the boy, 'Look, the arrows are next to you; get them,' then come [back with me]. You will be safe, and there will be no trouble. I swear it, as the LORD lives. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>But if I tell the boy, 'The arrows are next to you,' then go, because the LORD has sent you away. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>We have made a promise to each other, and the LORD is [a witness] between you and me forever."</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>So David hid in the countryside. When the New Moon Festival came, King Saul sat down to eat the festival meal. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>He sat in his usual seat by the wall, while Jonathan stood. Abner sat beside Saul, but David's place was empty. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Saul didn't say anything that day, thinking, "Something has happened to him so that he's unclean. He must be unclean." <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>But on the second day of the month, David's place was still empty. Saul asked his son Jonathan, "Why hasn't Jesse's son come to the meal either yesterday or today?" <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Jonathan answered Saul, "David repeatedly begged me [to let him go] to Bethlehem. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>David said to me 'Please let me go. Our relatives will offer a sacrifice in the city, and my brother ordered me to be there. If you will permit it, please let me go to see my brothers.' This is why he hasn't come to your banquet."</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Then Saul got angry with Jonathan. "Son of a crooked and rebellious woman!" he called Jonathan. "I know you've sided with Jesse's son. You have no shame. [You act] as if you are your mother's son but not mine. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>As long as Jesse's son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Now, send some men to bring him to me. He's a dead man!" <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>Jonathan asked his father, "Why should he be killed? What has he done?" <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>Saul raised his spear to strike him. Then Jonathan knew his father was determined to kill David. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Jonathan got up from the table very angry and ate nothing that second day of the month. He was worried sick about David because Jonathan had been humiliated by his own father.</p> <p class="reg"><span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>In the morning Jonathan went out to the country to the place he and David had agreed on. Jonathan had a young boy with him. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>"Run," he told the boy, "please find the arrows I shoot." The boy ran, and Jonathan shot the arrow over him. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>When the boy reached the place where Jonathan's arrow [had landed], Jonathan called after him, "The arrows are next to you!" <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>Jonathan added, "Quick! Hurry up! Don't stand there!" Jonathan's young servant gathered the arrows and came to his master. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>The boy had no idea what was going on, but Jonathan and David understood. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told the boy, "Take them back into town." <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>When the boy had left, David came out from the south side [of the rock] and quickly bowed down three times with his face touching the ground. Then they kissed each other and cried together, but David cried the loudest. <span class="reftext"><a href="/1_samuel/20-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>"Go in peace!" Jonathan told David. "We have both taken an oath in the LORD's name, saying, 'The LORD will be [a witness] between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.' " So David left, and Jonathan went into the city.</p></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of <a href="//www.godsword.org" target="_top">God's Word to the Nations</a>. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. 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