Study Desk

But all the people in Israel and Judah loved David because he was out among them and led them into battle.

But David said, "I am not an important man from an important family. I can't marry the king's daughter."

Saul's officers said these things to David, but David answered, "Do you think it is easy to become the king's son-in-law? I am just a poor, ordinary man."

The Philistine commanders continued to go out to fight the Israelites, but David defeated them every time. He became famous as Saul's best officer.

Saul told his son Jonathan and his officers to kill David. But Jonathan liked David very much,

Saul sent men to watch David's house. They stayed there all night. They were waiting to kill David in the morning, but David's wife Michal warned him. She said, "You must run away tonight and save your life. If you don't, you will be killed tomorrow."

Saul sent messengers to take David prisoner. But Michal said, "David is sick."

The men went and told Saul, but he sent the messengers back to see David. Saul told these men, "Bring David to me. Bring him lying on his bed if you must, even if it kills him."

The messengers went to David's house. They went inside to get him, but they saw it was only a statue and that its hair was only goats' hair.

So he sent some men to arrest David. But when they came to the camps, there was a group of prophets prophesying. Samuel was standing there leading the group. The Spirit of God came on Saul's messengers and they began prophesying.

Saul heard about this, so he sent other messengers, but they also began prophesying. So Saul sent messengers a third time, and they also began prophesying.

But David answered, "Your father knows very well that I am your friend. Your father said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know about it. If he knows, he will tell David.' But as surely as you and the Lord are alive, I am very close to death."

Then David said, "Look, tomorrow is the New Moon celebration. I am supposed to eat with the king, but let me hide in the field until the evening.

If your father says, ‘Fine,' then I am safe. But if your father becomes angry, you will know that he wants to hurt me.

Jonathan, be kind to me. I am your servant. You have made an agreement with me before the Lord . If I am guilty, you may kill me yourself, but don't take me to your father."

But if there is trouble, I will say to the boy, ‘The arrows are farther away. Go get them.' If I say that, you must leave. The Lord is sending you away.

He sat next to the wall where he usually sat, and Jonathan sat across from him. Abner sat next to Saul, but David's place was empty.

But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan and tried to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father wanted very much to kill David.

The boy ran to the place where the arrows fell, but Jonathan called, "The arrows are farther away."

When the boy left, David came out from his hiding place on the other side of the hill. David gave a formal greeting by bowing to the ground three times to show his respect for Jonathan. But then David and Jonathan kissed each other and cried together. It was a very sad goodbye, especially for David.