Study Desk

And David swore moreover, and said, Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes; and he says, Don't let Jonathan know this, or else he will be grieved: but truly as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.

And David said to Jonathan, Look, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the evening.

If he says thus, It is well; your slave shall have peace: but if he is angry, then know that evil has been determined by him.

Therefore deal kindly with your slave; for you have brought your slave into a covenant of Yahweh with you: but if there is iniquity in me, slay me yourself; for why should you bring me to your father?

but also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when Yahweh has cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.

But if I say thus to the boy, Look, the arrows are beyond you; go your way; for Yahweh has sent you away.

And the king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side: but David's place was empty.

But the lad didn't know anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.

And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.

And David answered the priest, and said to him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then today shall their vessels be holy?

So the priest gave him holy [bread]; for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before Yahweh, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

And the king said to the guard that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of Yahweh; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me. But the slaves of the king would not put forth their hand to fall on the priests of Yahweh.

And David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver him into his hand.

And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.

But there came a messenger to Saul, saying, Hurry, and come; for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.

Look, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill you; but [I] spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh's anointed.

Yahweh judge between me and you, and Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.

As says the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be on you.

And David swore to Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men got up to the stronghold.

Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was harsh and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.