New Living Translation

Hebrew Study Bible

1David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. “What have I done?” he exclaimed. “What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so 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׃

2“That’s not true!” Jonathan protested. “You’re not going to die. He always tells me everything he’s going to do, even the little things. I know my father wouldn’t hide something like this from me. It just isn’t so!”

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׃

3Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, “Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, ‘I won’t tell Jonathan—why should I hurt him?’ But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the LORD and by your own soul!”

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׃

4“Tell me what I can do to help you,” Jonathan exclaimed.

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

5David replied, “Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. I’ve always eaten with the king on this occasion, but tomorrow I’ll hide in the field and stay there until the evening of the third day.

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

6If your father asks where I am, tell him I asked permission to go home to Bethlehem for an annual family sacrifice.

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

7If he says, ‘Fine!’ you will know all is well. But if he is angry and loses his temper, you will know he is determined to kill me.

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

8Show me this loyalty as my sworn friend—for we made a solemn pact before the LORD—or kill me yourself if I have sinned against your father. But please don’t betray me to him!”

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

9“Never!” Jonathan exclaimed. “You know that if I had the slightest notion my father was planning to kill you, I would tell you at once.”

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

10Then David asked, “How will I know whether or not your father is angry?”

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

11“Come out to the field with me,” Jonathan replied. And they went out there together.

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

12Then Jonathan told David, “I promise by the LORD, the God of Israel, that by this time tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, I will talk to my father and let you know at once how he feels about you. If he speaks favorably about you, I will 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 he is angry and wants you killed, may the LORD strike me and even kill me if I don’t warn you so you can escape and live. May the LORD be with you as he used to be 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׃

14And may you treat me with the faithful love of the LORD as long as I live. But if I die,

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

15treat my family with this faithful love, even when the LORD destroys all your 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׃

16So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, “May the LORD destroy all your enemies!”

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

17And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.

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

18Then Jonathan said, “Tomorrow we celebrate the new moon festival. You will be missed when your place at the table is empty.

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

19The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid before, and wait there by the stone pile.

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

20I will come out and shoot three arrows to the side of the stone pile as though I were shooting at a target.

20וַאֲנִ֕י שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת הַחִצִּ֖ים צִדָּ֣ה אוֹרֶ֑ה לְשַֽׁלַּֽח־ לִ֖י לְמַטָּרָֽה׃

21Then I will send a boy to bring the arrows back. If you hear me tell him, ‘They’re on this side,’ then you will know, as surely as the LORD lives, that all is well, and there is no trouble.

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 tell him, ‘Go farther—the arrows are still ahead of you,’ then it will mean that you must leave immediately, for the LORD is sending you away.

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

23And may the LORD make us keep our promises to each other, for he has witnessed them.”

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

24So David hid himself in the field, and when the new moon festival began, the king sat down to eat.

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

25He sat at his usual place against the wall, with Jonathan sitting opposite him and Abner beside him. 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 about it that day, for he said to himself, “Something must have made David ceremonially unclean.”

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

27But when David’s place was empty again the next day, Saul asked Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse been here for 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 replied, “David earnestly asked me if he could go to Bethlehem.

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

29He said, ‘Please let me go, for we are having a family sacrifice. My brother demanded that I be there. So please let me get away to see my brothers.’ That’s why he isn’t here at 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 boiled with rage at Jonathan. “You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?

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

31As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!”

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

32“But why should he be put to death?” Jonathan asked his father. “What has he done?”

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

33Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.

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

34Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat on that second day of the festival, for he was crushed by 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

35The next morning, as agreed, Jonathan went out into the field and took a young boy with him to gather his arrows.

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

36“Start running,” he told the boy, “so you can find the arrows as I shoot them.” So the boy ran, and Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him.

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

37When the boy had almost reached the arrow, Jonathan shouted, “The arrow is still ahead of you.

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

38Hurry, hurry, don’t wait.” So the boy quickly gathered up the arrows and ran back to his master.

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

39He, of course, suspected nothing; only Jonathan and David understood the signal.

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

40Then Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to the boy and told him to take them back to town.

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

41As soon as the boy was gone, David came out from where he had been hiding near the stone pile. Then David bowed three times to Jonathan with his face to the ground. Both of them were in tears as they embraced each other and said good-bye, especially David.

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

42At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the LORD’s name. The LORD is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the town.

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׃

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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