BRAGADAYJAH
880
Saul
Railed Against Jonathon
The
two friends Jonathon and David having renewed their pledges of loyalty one
toward the other, Jonathon told David that the morrow being the new moon, that
he would be missed at table for his seat would be empty; so after three days he
should proceed to the hiding place they had used before which is by the stone
Ezel. At that time, Jonathon said, he would shoot three arrows into the side of
the stone as though he was practicing. And afterwards he would send a boy with
instructions to go and find the arrows. Then if he said to the boy, “the arrows
are on this side of you take them, then you may show yourself for there is
peace with my father; but if I say to the lad, the arrows are beyond you, go
your way for the Lord has sent you away. And as far as our pledge to each other
is concerned, the Lord is between you and me forever.” And David hid himself in the field. And when
the new moon had come, the King sat himself down in his usual place by the wall,
and Abner sat beside him, and Jonathon remained standing; and David’s seat was
empty. Saul noticed the empty seat and said nothing; for he thought to himself
it might be that something bad had befallen David. But when on the second day,
which was the second day of the month, and David’s seat was still empty, Saul
asked Jonathon why David had not come to meat for two days. And Jonathon said
he had given David leave to go to Bethlehem, and that is why he is not there. He explained that David had requested leave of
absence in order to attend a special family sacrifice in the city, and his
brother had commanded him to be there, hence he had granted him leave to be
absent. And of course Saul flew into a rage and railed against Jonathon.
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