Holman Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came to Jonathan and asked, "What have I done? What did I do wrong? How have I sinned against your father so that he wants to take my life?"

1וַיִּבְרַ֣ח דָּוִ֔ד [מנוות] (מִנָּי֖וֹת) בָּרָמָ֑ה וַיָּבֹ֞א וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ׀ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן מֶ֤ה עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙ מֶֽה־ עֲוֺנִ֤י וּמֶֽה־ חַטָּאתִי֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אָבִ֔יךָ כִּ֥י מְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־ נַפְשִֽׁי׃

2Jonathan said to him, "No, you won't die. Listen, my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This can't be true."

2וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֣וֹ חָלִילָה֮ לֹ֣א תָמוּת֒ הִנֵּ֡ה [לו־] [עשה] (לֹֽא־) (יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה) אָבִ֜י דָּבָ֣ר גָּד֗וֹל א֚וֹ דָּבָ֣ר קָטֹ֔ן וְלֹ֥א יִגְלֶ֖ה אֶת־ אָזְנִ֑י וּמַדּוּעַ֩ יַסְתִּ֨יר אָבִ֥י מִמֶּ֛נִּי אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּ֖ה אֵ֥ין זֹֽאת׃

3But David said, "Your father certainly knows that you have come to look favorably on me. He has said, 'Jonathan must not know of this, or else he will be grieved.'" David also swore, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death."

3וַיִּשָּׁבַ֨ע ע֜וֹד דָּוִ֗ד וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יָדֹ֨עַ יָדַ֜ע אָבִ֗יךָ כִּֽי־ מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ וַיֹּ֛אמֶר אַל־ יֵֽדַע־ זֹ֥את יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן פֶּן־ יֵֽעָצֵ֑ב וְאוּלָ֗ם חַי־ יְהוָה֙ וְחֵ֣י נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ כִּ֣י כְפֶ֔שַׂע בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין הַמָּֽוֶת׃

4Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you."

4וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן אֶל־ דָּוִ֑ד מַה־ תֹּאמַ֥ר נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־ לָּֽךְ׃ פ

5So David told him, "Look, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I'm supposed to sit down and eat with the king. Instead, let me go, and I'll hide in the field until the third night.

5וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־ יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן הִֽנֵּה־ חֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ מָחָ֔ר וְאָנֹכִ֛י יָשֹׁב־ אֵשֵׁ֥ב עִם־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֶאֱכ֑וֹל וְשִׁלַּחְתַּ֙נִי֙ וְנִסְתַּרְתִּ֣י בַשָּׂדֶ֔ה עַ֖ד הָעֶ֥רֶב הַשְּׁלִשִֽׁית׃

6If 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.'

6אִם־ פָּקֹ֥ד יִפְקְדֵ֖נִי אָבִ֑יךָ וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ נִשְׁאֹל֩ נִשְׁאַ֨ל מִמֶּ֤נִּי דָוִד֙ לָרוּץ֙ בֵּֽית־ לֶ֣חֶם עִיר֔וֹ כִּ֣י זֶ֧בַח הַיָּמִ֛ים שָׁ֖ם לְכָל־ הַמִּשְׁפָּחָֽה׃

7If he says, 'Good,' then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions.

7אִם־ כֹּ֥ה יֹאמַ֛ר ט֖וֹב שָׁל֣וֹם לְעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וְאִם־ חָרֹ֤ה יֶֽחֱרֶה֙ ל֔וֹ דַּ֕ע כִּֽי־ כָלְתָ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ה מֵעִמּֽוֹ׃

8Deal 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?"

8וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ חֶ֙סֶד֙ עַל־ עַבְדֶּ֔ךָ כִּ֚י בִּבְרִ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה הֵבֵ֥אתָ אֶֽת־ עַבְדְּךָ֖ עִמָּ֑ךְ וְאִם־ יֶשׁ־ בִּ֤י עָוֺן֙ הֲמִיתֵ֣נִי אַ֔תָּה וְעַד־ אָבִ֖יךָ לָמָּה־ זֶּ֥ה תְבִיאֵֽנִי׃ פ

9"No!" Jonathan responded. "If I ever find out my father has evil intentions against you, wouldn't I tell you about it?"

9וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן חָלִ֣ילָה לָּ֑ךְ כִּ֣י ׀ אִם־ יָדֹ֣עַ אֵדַ֗ע כִּֽי־ כָלְתָ֨ה הָרָעָ֜ה מֵעִ֤ם אָבִי֙ לָב֣וֹא עָלֶ֔יךָ וְלֹ֥א אֹתָ֖הּ אַגִּ֥יד לָֽךְ׃ ס

10So David asked Jonathan, "Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?"

10וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ אֶל־ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן מִ֖י יַגִּ֣יד לִ֑י א֛וֹ מַה־ יַּעַנְךָ֥ אָבִ֖יךָ קָשָֽׁה׃ ס

11He answered David, "Come on, let's go out to the field." So both of them went out to the field.

11וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אֶל־ דָּוִ֔ד לְכָ֖ה וְנֵצֵ֣א הַשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיֵּצְא֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ ס

12"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?

12וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־ דָּוִ֗ד יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כִּֽי־ אֶחְקֹ֣ר אֶת־ אָבִ֗י כָּעֵ֤ת ׀ מָחָר֙ הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֔ית וְהִנֵּה־ ט֖וֹב אֶל־ דָּוִ֑ד וְלֹֽא־ אָז֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְגָלִ֖יתִי אֶת־ אָזְנֶֽךָ׃

13If my father intends to bring evil on you, may God punish Jonathan and do so severely if I do not tell you and send you away so you may go in peace. May the LORD be with you, just as He was with my father.

13כֹּֽה־ יַעֲשֶׂה֩ יְהוָ֨ה לִֽיהוֹנָתָ֜ן וְכֹ֣ה יֹסִ֗יף כִּֽי־ יֵיטִ֨ב אֶל־ אָבִ֤י אֶת־ הָֽרָעָה֙ עָלֶ֔יךָ וְגָלִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־ אָזְנֶ֔ךָ וְשִׁלַּחְתִּ֖יךָ וְהָלַכְתָּ֣ לְשָׁל֑וֹם וִיהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־ אָבִֽי׃

14If I continue to live, treat me with the LORD's faithful love, but if I die,

14וְלֹ֖א אִם־ עוֹדֶ֣נִּי חָ֑י וְלֹֽא־ תַעֲשֶׂ֧ה עִמָּדִ֛י חֶ֥סֶד יְהוָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א אָמֽוּת׃

15don't ever withdraw your faithful love from my household--not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth."

15וְלֹֽא־ תַכְרִ֧ת אֶֽת־ חַסְדְּךָ֛ מֵעִ֥ם בֵּיתִ֖י עַד־ עוֹלָ֑ם וְלֹ֗א בְּהַכְרִ֤ת יְהוָה֙ אֶת־ אֹיְבֵ֣י דָוִ֔ד אִ֕ישׁ מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃

16Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD hold David's enemies accountable."

16וַיִּכְרֹ֥ת יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן עִם־ בֵּ֣ית דָּוִ֑ד וּבִקֵּ֣שׁ יְהוָ֔ה מִיַּ֖ד אֹיְבֵ֥י דָוִֽד׃

17Jonathan once again swore to David in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

17וַיּ֤וֹסֶף יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ לְהַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ אֶת־ דָּוִ֔ד בְּאַהֲבָת֖וֹ אֹת֑וֹ כִּֽי־ אַהֲבַ֥ת נַפְשׁ֖וֹ אֲהֵבֽוֹ׃ ס

18Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the New Moon; you'll be missed because your seat will be empty.

18וַיֹּֽאמֶר־ ל֥וֹ יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן מָחָ֣ר חֹ֑דֶשׁ וְנִפְקַ֕דְתָּ כִּ֥י יִפָּקֵ֖ד מוֹשָׁבֶֽךָ׃

19The following day hurry down and go to the place where you hid on the day this incident began and stay beside the rock Ezel.

19וְשִׁלַּשְׁתָּ֙ תֵּרֵ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וּבָאתָ֙ אֶל־ הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר־ נִסְתַּ֥רְתָּ שָּׁ֖ם בְּי֣וֹם הַֽמַּעֲשֶׂ֑ה וְיָ֣שַׁבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖צֶל הָאֶ֥בֶן הָאָֽזֶל׃

20I will shoot three arrows beside it as if I'm aiming at a target.

20וַאֲנִ֕י שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת הַחִצִּ֖ים צִדָּ֣ה אוֹרֶ֑ה לְשַֽׁלַּֽח־ לִ֖י לְמַטָּרָֽה׃

21Then 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.

21וְהִנֵּה֙ אֶשְׁלַ֣ח אֶת־ הַנַּ֔עַר לֵ֖ךְ מְצָ֣א אֶת־ הַחִצִּ֑ים אִם־ אָמֹר֩ אֹמַ֨ר לַנַּ֜עַר הִנֵּ֥ה הַחִצִּ֣ים ׀ מִמְּךָ֣ וָהֵ֗נָּה קָחֶ֧נּוּ ׀ וָבֹ֛אָה כִּֽי־ שָׁל֥וֹם לְךָ֛ וְאֵ֥ין דָּבָ֖ר חַי־ יְהוָֽה׃

22But if I say this to the youth: 'Look, the arrows are beyond you!' then go, for the LORD is sending you away.

22וְאִם־ כֹּ֤ה אֹמַר֙ לָעֶ֔לֶם הִנֵּ֥ה הַחִצִּ֖ים מִמְּךָ֣ וָהָ֑לְאָה לֵ֕ךְ כִּ֥י שִֽׁלַּחֲךָ֖ יְהוָֽה׃

23As for the matter you and I have spoken about, the LORD will be a witness between you and me forever."

23וְהַ֨דָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְנוּ אֲנִ֣י וָאָ֑תָּה הִנֵּ֧ה יְהוָ֛ה בֵּינִ֥י וּבֵינְךָ֖ עַד־ עוֹלָֽם׃ ס

24So David hid in the field. At the New Moon, the king sat down to eat the meal.

24וַיִּסָּתֵ֥ר דָּוִ֖ד בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיְהִ֣י הַחֹ֔דֶשׁ וַיֵּ֧שֶׁב הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ [על־] (אֶל־) הַלֶּ֖חֶם לֶאֱכֽוֹל׃

25He sat at his usual place on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat facing him and Abner took his place beside Saul, but David's place was empty.

25וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ עַל־ מ֨וֹשָׁב֜וֹ כְּפַ֣עַם ׀ בְּפַ֗עַם אֶל־ מוֹשַׁב֙ הַקִּ֔יר וַיָּ֙קָם֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב אַבְנֵ֖ר מִצַּ֣ד שָׁא֑וּל וַיִּפָּקֵ֖ד מְק֥וֹם דָּוִֽד׃

26Saul did not say anything that day because he thought, "Something unexpected has happened; he must be ceremonially unclean--yes, that's it, he is unclean."

26וְלֹֽא־ דִבֶּ֥ר שָׁא֛וּל מְא֖וּמָה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא כִּ֤י אָמַר֙ מִקְרֶ֣ה ה֔וּא בִּלְתִּ֥י טָה֛וֹר ה֖וּא כִּֽי־ לֹ֥א טָהֽוֹר׃ ס

27However, the day after the New Moon, the second day, David's place was still empty, and Saul asked his son Jonathan, "Why didn't Jesse's son come to the meal either yesterday or today?"

27וַיְהִ֗י מִֽמָּחֳרַ֤ת הַחֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י וַיִּפָּקֵ֖ד מְק֣וֹם דָּוִ֑ד ס וַיֹּ֤אמֶר שָׁאוּל֙ אֶל־ יְהוֹנָתָ֣ן בְּנ֔וֹ מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־ בָ֧א בֶן־ יִשַׁ֛י גַּם־ תְּמ֥וֹל גַּם־ הַיּ֖וֹם אֶל־ הַלָּֽחֶם׃

28Jonathan answered, "David asked for my permission to go to Bethlehem.

28וַיַּ֥עַן יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן אֶת־ שָׁא֑וּל נִשְׁאֹ֨ל נִשְׁאַ֥ל דָּוִ֛ד מֵעִמָּדִ֖י עַד־ בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃

29He said, 'Please let me go because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if you are pleased with me, let me go so I can see my brothers.' That's why he didn't come to the king's table."

29וַיֹּ֡אמֶר שַׁלְּחֵ֣נִי נָ֡א כִּ֣י זֶבַח֩ מִשְׁפָּחָ֨ה לָ֜נוּ בָּעִ֗יר וְה֤וּא צִוָּֽה־ לִי֙ אָחִ֔י וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם־ מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ אִמָּ֥לְטָה נָּ֖א וְאֶרְאֶ֣ה אֶת־ אֶחָ֑י עַל־ כֵּ֣ן לֹא־ בָ֔א אֶל־ שֻׁלְחַ֖ן הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס

30Then Saul became angry with Jonathan and shouted, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you are siding with Jesse's son to your own shame and to the disgrace of your mother?

30וַיִּֽחַר־ אַ֤ף שָׁאוּל֙ בִּיה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ בֶּֽן־ נַעֲוַ֖ת הַמַּרְדּ֑וּת הֲל֣וֹא יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּֽי־ בֹחֵ֤ר אַתָּה֙ לְבֶן־ יִשַׁ֔י לְבָ֨שְׁתְּךָ֔ וּלְבֹ֖שֶׁת עֶרְוַ֥ת אִמֶּֽךָ׃

31Every 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."

31כִּ֣י כָל־ הַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר בֶּן־ יִשַׁי֙ חַ֣י עַל־ הָאֲדָמָ֔ה לֹ֥א תִכּ֖וֹן אַתָּ֣ה וּמַלְכוּתֶ֑ךָ וְעַתָּ֗ה שְׁלַ֨ח וְקַ֤ח אֹתוֹ֙ אֵלַ֔י כִּ֥י בֶן־ מָ֖וֶת הֽוּא׃ ס

32Jonathan answered his father back: "Why is he to be killed? What has he done?"

32וַיַּ֙עַן֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן אֶת־ שָׁא֖וּל אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֧אמֶר אֵלָ֛יו לָ֥מָּה יוּמַ֖ת מֶ֥ה עָשָֽׂה׃

33Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, so he knew that his father was determined to kill David.

33וַיָּ֨טֶל שָׁא֧וּל אֶֽת־ הַחֲנִ֛ית עָלָ֖יו לְהַכֹּת֑וֹ וַיֵּ֙דַע֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן כִּֽי־ כָ֥לָה הִ֛יא מֵעִ֥ם אָבִ֖יו לְהָמִ֥ית אֶת־ דָּוִֽד׃ ס

34He 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.

34וַיָּ֧קָם יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן מֵעִ֥ם הַשֻּׁלְחָ֖ן בָּחֳרִי־ אָ֑ף וְלֹא־ אָכַ֞ל בְּיוֹם־ הַחֹ֤דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי֙ לֶ֔חֶם כִּ֤י נֶעְצַב֙ אֶל־ דָּוִ֔ד כִּ֥י הִכְלִמ֖וֹ אָבִֽיו׃ ס

35In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for the appointed meeting with David. A small young man was with him.

35וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֵּצֵ֧א יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לְמוֹעֵ֣ד דָּוִ֑ד וְנַ֥עַר קָטֹ֖ן עִמּֽוֹ׃

36He said to the young man, "Run and find the arrows I'm shooting." As the young man ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

36וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְנַעֲר֔וֹ רֻ֗ץ מְצָ֥א נָא֙ אֶת־ הַ֣חִצִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י מוֹרֶ֑ה הַנַּ֣עַר רָ֔ץ וְהֽוּא־ יָרָ֥ה הַחֵ֖צִי לְהַעֲבִרֽוֹ׃

37He came to the location of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, but Jonathan called to him and said, "The arrow is beyond you, isn't it?"

37וַיָּבֹ֤א הַנַּ֙עַר֙ עַד־ מְק֣וֹם הַחֵ֔צִי אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָרָ֖ה יְהוֹנָתָ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֨א יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אַחֲרֵ֤י הַנַּ֙עַר֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר הֲל֥וֹא הַחֵ֖צִי מִמְּךָ֥ וָהָֽלְאָה׃

38Then Jonathan called to him, "Hurry up and don't stop!" Jonathan's young man picked up the arrow and returned to his master.

38וַיִּקְרָ֤א יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַנַּ֔עַר מְהֵרָ֥ה ח֖וּשָׁה אַֽל־ תַּעֲמֹ֑ד וַיְלַקֵּ֞ט נַ֤עַר יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אֶת־ [החצי] (הַ֣חִצִּ֔ים) וַיָּבֹ֖א אֶל־ אֲדֹנָֽיו׃

39He did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement.

39וְהַנַּ֖עַר לֹֽא־ יָדַ֣ע מְא֑וּמָה אַ֤ךְ יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ וְדָוִ֔ד יָדְע֖וּ אֶת־ הַדָּבָֽר׃

40Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the young man who was with him and said, "Go, take it back to the city."

40וַיִּתֵּ֤ן יְהֽוֹנָתָן֙ אֶת־ כֵּלָ֔יו אֶל־ הַנַּ֖עַר אֲשֶׁר־ ל֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ לֵ֖ךְ הָבֵ֥יא הָעִֽיר׃

41When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone Ezel, fell with his face to the ground, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept with each other, though David wept more.

41הַנַּעַר֮ בָּא֒ וְדָוִ֗ד קָ֚ם מֵאֵ֣צֶל הַנֶּ֔גֶב וַיִּפֹּ֨ל לְאַפָּ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ פְּעָמִ֑ים וַֽיִּשְּׁק֣וּ ׀ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־ רֵעֵ֗הוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־ רֵעֵ֔הוּ עַד־ דָּוִ֖ד הִגְדִּֽיל׃

42Jonathan then said to David, "Go in the assurance the two of us pledged in the name of the LORD when we said: The LORD will be a witness between you and me and between my offspring and your offspring forever." Then David left, and Jonathan went into the city.

42וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן לְדָוִ֖ד לֵ֣ךְ לְשָׁל֑וֹם אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּ שְׁנֵ֜ינוּ אֲנַ֗חְנוּ בְּשֵׁ֤ם יְהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהוָ֞ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה ׀ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעִ֛י וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־ עוֹלָֽם׃ פ וַיָּ֖קָם וַיֵּלַ֑ךְ וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן בָּ֥א הָעִֽיר׃

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.