Together David and Jonathan came up with a plan to confirm Saul's intent.
David reminded Jonathan that the next day was the New Moon festival.
David was supposed to dine with the king on that day. David decided to
hide in the field instead of going to the festival. Jonathan would go to the
festival. If Saul missed David and asked Jonathan where he was, Jonathan
was to tell him that he had given David permission to go to Bethlehem, for
an annual sacrifice that was being made for his clan (verse 6). If Saul said:
"Very well," then they would know that Saul was not trying to kill David.
If, on the other hand, Saul lost his temper, they would know that he had
determined in his heart to harm him (verse 7).
David wanted Jonathan to know his feelings toward him. He reminded
Jonathan of the covenant of friendship they had made with each other
(verse 8). In verse 8, David asked Jonathan, as his friend, to kill him if he
had done anything wrong. He pleaded with him, however, not to hand him
over to Saul.
Jonathan assured David that if he found that his father wanted to kill him,
he would let him know. Because it would not be good for them to be seen
together if Saul wanted to kill David, they decided on a plan to
communicate Saul's intent. Jonathan told David that he would question his
father and let David know Saul's intentions. He promised David that if he
discovered his father had hostile intents toward him, he would do
everything in his power to warn him so he could escape (verse 13). He
asked David, however, to show unfailing kindness to him and his family
(verse 14-15). In asking this, Jonathan is showing David that he believed
the time would come when he would be king over Israel.
That day Jonathan and David made a covenant with each other. Jonathan
reaffirmed his oath of support and loyalty to David because he loved him.
The men knew that they would not see each other any longer if Saul's intent
was to kill David. David would have to go into hiding.
Jonathan told David to meet him in two days by the stone of Ezel. He
would bring a boy with him as if he were doing some target practice.
Jonathan would shoot some arrows and speak to the boy. If he said: "Look,
the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here," (verse 21) then David