Study Desk

Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan found much joy in David.

Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, saying, "Do not let the king sin against his servant David. He has not sinned against you. What he has done has been good for you.

He put his life in danger and killed the Philistine. And the Lord helped all Israel with His saving power. You saw it and were glad. Why then will you sin against him who has done no wrong, by killing David for no reason?"

Then a bad spirit sent from the Lord came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. David was playing the harp.

He took off his clothes and said what was going to happen in front of Samuel. He lay down without clothing all that day and all that night. So they say, "Is Saul among those who say what will happen?"

If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David asked me to let him leave to run to his city Bethlehem. It is the time for the whole family to gather there for the gift given on the altar in worship each year.'

Jonathan made David promise again, by his love for him. For he loved him as he loved his own life.

The king sat on his seat by the wall as he did other times. Jonathan sat on the other side from him, and Abner sat beside Saul. But David's place was empty.

But David's place was empty the next day, the second day of the new moon. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to the supper yesterday and today?"

Jonathan answered his father Saul, "Why should he be killed? What has he done?"

But Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, so he knew that his father had decided to kill David.

Jonathan rose from the table very angry. He did not eat any food on the second day of the new moon. For he was filled with sorrow for David, because his father had brought shame upon him.

Jonathan said to his boy, "Run, find the arrows I shoot." As the boy was running, he shot an arrow past him.

Jonathan called to the boy, "Hurry, be quick, do not stay!" Then Jonathan's boy picked up the arrow and came to his owner.

Then Jonathan gave his bow and arrows to his boy and told him, "Go, take them to the city."

When the boy was gone, David rose from the south side and fell on his face to the ground. He bowed three times. Then they kissed each other and cried together, but David more.

Now one of Saul's servants happened to be there that day. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the head of Saul's shepherds.

The servants of Achish said to him, "Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing to each other about him as they danced, saying, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"

So he changed the way he acted in front of them. He pretended to be crazy while he was with them. He made marks on the doors of the gate. He let his spit run down into the hair of his face.

Then Achish said to his servants, "See, you see the man is crazy. Why have you brought him to me?