Study Desk

Then Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be a man of valor for me and fight Yahweh's battles." For Saul thought, "My hand shall not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him."

And Saul said, "I will give her to him that she may become a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." Therefore Saul said to David, "For a second time you may be my son-in-law today."

Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Do not let the king sin against his servant David, since he has not sinned against you, and since his works have been very good for you.

For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and Yahweh brought about a great salvation for all Israel; you saw it and were glad. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death without a cause?"

Then Saul sent messengers to David's house to keep watch over him, in order to put him to death in the morning. But Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, "If you do not make an escape for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be put to death."

Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever your soul says, I will do for you."

If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city because it is the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.'

Therefore show lovingkindness to your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you. But if there is iniquity in me, put me to death yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?"

And Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! For if I should indeed come to know that evil has been decided by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you about it?"

And Jonathan made David swear again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own soul.

When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day, and you shall remain by the stone Ezel.

And behold, I will send the young man, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.' If I specifically say to the young man, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,' then come, for there is peace for you and no harm, as Yahweh lives.

But if I say to the youth, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,' go, for Yahweh has sent you away.

As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, Yahweh is between you and me forever."

Nevertheless Saul did not speak anything that day, for he said, "It is an accident; he is not clean; surely he is not clean."

and he said, ‘Please send me on my way, since our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to attend. So now, if I have found favor in your sight, please let me get away that I may see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table."

For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. So now, send and bring him to me, for he must surely die."

Then Jonathan arose from the table in burning anger and did not eat food on the second day of the new moon, for he was grieved over David because his father had dishonored him.

Now it happened in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field for the appointment with David, and a very young man was with him.

So the priest gave him consecrated bread; for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence which was removed from before Yahweh, in order to put hot bread in its place when it was taken away.