Now Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul. And he said to him, To-morrow is the new moon, and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty, and when thou hast stayed three days, then come and remain by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as if I shot at a mark. And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say to the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt, as the Lord liveth. But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the Lord hath sent thee away.

So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon was come, the king sat himself down to meat. And David's place was empty. But Saul spake nothing until the second day; and then he said to Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday nor to-day? And Jonathan And Jonathan answered Saul as he had agreed with David. Then Saul's anger was

kindled against Jonathan, and he cast a javelin at him to smite him, whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. And he arose from the table and did eat no meat, for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame. And in the morning he went out into the field, at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. shot an arrow beyond him.

And as the lad ran, he

And when the lad was

come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew not anything, only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city. And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground three times, and bowed himself three times; and they kissed one another, and wept with one another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And David arose and departed. And Jonathan went into the city. Then they told David, saying, Behold the Philistines fight against Keilah, and rob the threshingfloors. And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah. So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and saved the inhabitants of Keilah. Then Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men. So David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and abode in the wilderness in strongholds. And Saul sought David every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life; and David was in the wilderness of

Ziph, in a wood. And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear not, for the hand of Saul, my father, shall not find thee, and thou shalt be king over Israel. And they two made a covenant before the Lord.

But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land. Whereupon Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines. And David went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds at Engedi.

cave.

And when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, it was told him, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave, and Saul went in and lay down to sleep; and David and his men remained in the sides of the And the men of David said to him, Behold, the Lord hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And David stayed his men, and would not suffer them to rise against Saul. And when Saul arose and went out of the cave, David cried after him, My lord, the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and said, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?