Study Desk

David spoke to the men who were standing with him: "What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

The people told him about the offer, concluding, "That is what will be done for the man who kills him."

Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God."

and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord 's. He will hand you over to us."

Saul told David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I'll give her to you as a wife, if you will be a warrior for me and fight the Lord 's battles." But Saul was thinking, "My hand doesn't need to be against him; let the hand of the Philistines be against him."

"I'll give her to him," Saul thought. "She'll be a trap for him, and the hand of the Philistines will be against him." So Saul said to David a second time, "You can now be my son-in-law."

He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?"

Saul sent agents to David's house to watch for him and kill him in the morning. But his wife Michal warned David, "If you don't escape tonight, you will be dead tomorrow!"

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

If your father misses me at all, say, ‘David urgently requested my permission to quickly go to his town Bethlehem for an annual sacrifice there involving the whole clan.'

Deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the Lord . If I have done anything wrong, then kill me yourself; why take me to your father?"

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

Jonathan once again swore to David in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

Then I will send the young man and say, ‘Go and find the arrows!' Now, if I expressly say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you—get them,' then come, because as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no problem.

But if I say this to the youth: ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you!' then go, for the Lord is sending you away.

As for the matter you and I have spoken about, the Lord will be a witness between you and me forever."

Jonathan answered, "David asked for my permission to go to Bethlehem.

Every day Jesse's son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me—he deserves to die."

He got up from the table in fierce anger and did not eat any food that second day of the New Moon, for he was grieved because of his father's shameful behavior toward David.

In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the appointed meeting with David. A small young man was with him.