Study Desk

Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you desire, I will do for you."

If your father misses me at all, tell him, 'David urgently requested my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because there is an annual sacrifice for his whole clan.'

Therefore deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?"

and Jonathan said, "By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?

And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.

Then I will send a boy and say, 'Go, find the arrows!' Now, if I expressly say to him, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them,' then come, because as surely as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.

But if I say to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then you must go, for the LORD has sent you away.

And as for the matter you and I have discussed, the LORD is a witness between you and me forever."

Every day the son of Jesse lives on earth, neither you nor your kingship shall be established. Now send for him and bring him to me, for he must surely die!"

Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and did not eat any food that second day of the month, for he was grieved by his father's shameful treatment of David.

In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the appointment with David, and a small boy was with him.

And Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD when we said, 'May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.'" Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.

Now one of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.

Then David asked Ahimelech, "Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent."

The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one." And David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."

From there David went to Mizpeh of Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and mother stay with you until I learn what God will do for me."

Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with Jesse's son. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today."

Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

And Saul asked him, "Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today."

Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father's household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair-not in part or in whole."