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Hebrew Study Bible

1David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and said, "What have I done? What is my crime, and how have I wronged your father so that he's determined to kill me?

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

2Jonathan told him, "Far from it! You won't die. Look, my father never does anything, great or small, without telling me; so why should my father hide this thing from me? It's not like that!"

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׃

3David again took an oath: "Your father certainly knows that I've found favor with you, and so he told himself, 'Jonathan must not know this so he won't be upset.' But as certainly as the LORD is alive and living, and as certainly as I'm alive and living, too, there is only 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 told David, "Whatever you say, I'll do."

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

5David told Jonathan, "Look, the New Moon is tomorrow, and I'm expected to sit down with the king to eat. Let me go so I can hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow.

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

6If your father actually notices that I'm not there, then you are to say, 'David urgently requested that I allow him to run to his hometown of Bethlehem because the yearly sacrifice for the entire family was taking place there.'

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 will be safe. But if he actually gets angry, you will know that his intentions are evil.

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

8Now, show gracious kindness to your servant because you have entered into a sacred covenant with your servant. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself—why should you bring 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"Nonsense!" Jonathan replied. "If I actually knew that my father intended evil 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

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

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

11Then Jonathan told David, "Come, let's go into the field." So the two of them went into the field.

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

12Jonathan told David, "The LORD God of Israel is my witness that I'll carefully question my father by tomorrow or the next day. And if the response is favorable for David, will I not then send word to you and let you know?

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׃

13But if my father intends to harm you, may the LORD strike me dead if I don't let you know and send you away so you may go safely. May the LORD be with you as he has been 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 remain alive, don't fail to show me the LORD's gracious love so that I don't die.

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

15And don't stop showing your gracious love to my family forever, not even when the LORD eliminates each of David's enemies from the surface of the earth."

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

16Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David: "May the LORD punish any violation of this covenant by the hand of David's enemies."

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

17Jonathan made David vow again out of his love for him, because he loved him as himself.

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

18Jonathan told him, "Tomorrow is the New Moon, and you will be missed because your seat is empty.

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

19On the third day go down quickly and come to the place where you hid earlier. Remain beside the rock at Ezel.

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

20I'll shoot three arrows to the side of the rock as though I were shooting at a target.

20וַאֲנִ֕י שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת הַחִצִּ֖ים צִדָּ֣ה אוֹרֶ֑ה לְשַֽׁלַּֽח־ לִ֖י לְמַטָּרָֽה׃

21Then I'll send a servant, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I specifically say to the servant, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,' then come out because it's safe for you, and, as surely as the LORD lives, there is no danger.

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 young man: 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go, for the LORD has sent you away.

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

23As for the matter about which you and I spoke, remember that the LORD is a witness between us forever."

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

24David hid in the field. When the New Moon arrived, the king sat down to eat.

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

25The king sat down at his place as before, in the seat by the wall. Jonathan stood while Abner sat next to 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 didn't say anything that day because he told himself, "Something has happened; he's unclean; surely he's not clean."

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

27But the next day, on the second day of the New Moon, David's place was empty, and so Saul told his son Jonathan, "Why didn't Jesse's son come to the festival, 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 Saul, "David urgently requested that I let him go to Bethlehem.

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

29He said, 'Please let me go because our family has a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has ordered me to come. Now, if it's acceptable to you, please let me get away so I can see my brothers.' That's the reason 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

30Saul flew into a rage and told Jonathan, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have chosen Jesse's son to your shame and to the shame of your mother who bore you?

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

31As long as Jesse's son lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established! Now send someone and bring David to me. He's a dead man!"

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

32Jonathan asked his father Saul, "Why should he be killed? What did he do?"

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

33Then Saul threw the spear that was beside him to strike Jonathan down. So Jonathan realized 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

34So on the second day of the New Moon Jonathan angrily got up from the table without eating because he was upset about David, and because his father had humiliated him.

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

35In the morning Jonathan, accompanied by a servant, went out to the field for the appointment with David.

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

36Jonathan told his servant, "Run, find the arrows that I'm shooting." As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him.

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

37The servant came to the place where Jonathan had shot it, and Jonathan called out to him, "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׃

38Jonathan called out to the servant, "Hurry, be quick, don't stand around." Jonathan's servant picked up the arrow and brought it to his master.

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

39The servant was not aware of anything. Only Jonathan and David understood what had happened.

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

40Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the servant who was with him and told him, "Go, take these things to the city."

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

41The servant went. Then David came out from the south side of the rock, fell on his face, and bowed down three times. The men kissed each other, and both of them cried, but David even 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 told David, "Go in peace since both of us swore in the name of the LORD: 'May the LORD be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants forever.'" Then David got up and left, while Jonathan went to 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׃

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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