David and Jonathan strengthened their friendship, because David fled to Jonathan. “What have I done? What is my iniquity, my sin, that he seeks my life?”
Jonathan said, “Behold, my father does nothing either great or small, without my knowledge.” But David said, “There is only one step between me and death.” Jonathan said, “Whatever your heart desires, I will do for you.” David said, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, I must dine with the king.”
“But let me go and hide myself in the field until the evening of the third day. If your father asks about me, then say, ‘David asked me that he might go to Bethlehem his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice for the entire family.’ If he says, ‘It is good!’ then it will be well, but if he is angry, then he has determined to do evil. –
“But, who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?” “Come! Let us go out into the field.”
And Jonathan said, “You will be missed at the new moon because your seat will be empty, and especially on the third day. Go to the place where you are hiding and remain by the stone heap. I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as if I were shooting at a mark. I will tell the boy, ‘Go, find the arrows!’ If I tell the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are beside you, take them,’ then it is safe for you. But if I say to the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go away, for the Lord has commanded you to go away. What we have spoken of is between us and the Lord forever.”