6 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked permission of me that he might run over ato Bethlehem, his city, for thereis a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.’
7aIf he says thus: ‘Itis well,’ your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, be sure that bevil is determined by him.
8 Therefore you shall adeal kindly with your servant, for byou have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. Nevertheless, cif there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?”
9 But Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I knew certainly that evil was determined by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you?”
10 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me, or what if your father answers you roughly?”
11 And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So both of them went out into the field.
12 Then Jonathan said to David: “The Lord God of Israel iswitness! When I have1 sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed thereis good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you,
13 may athe Lord do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father todo you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And bthe Lord be with you as He has cbeen with my father.
14 And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die;
15 but ayou shall not cut off your kindness from my2 house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”
16 So Jonathan made acovenant with the1 house of David, saying,a“Let the Lord require it at the hand of David’s enemies.”
17 Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; afor he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18 Then Jonathan said to David, a“Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
19 And when you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to athe place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel.
Deal kindly - In giving me timely notice, and a true account of Saul's disposition and intention towards me. A covenant of the Lord - That is, a solemn covenant, not lightly undertaken, but seriously entered into, in the name and fear of God, and in his presence, calling him to be the witness of our sincerity therein, and the avenger of perfidiousness in him that breaks it. Slay me - I am contented thou shouldst kill me. For why - Why shouldst thou betray me to thy father, by concealing his evil intentions from me?
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