22 But I may say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you.’ If I do, you must go, because the Lord has sent you away.
23 Remember what we talked about. The Lord is a witness between you and me forever.”
24 So David hid in the field. And when the New Moon festival came, the king sat down to eat.
25 He sat where he always sat, near the wall. Jonathan sat across from him, and Abner sat next to him. But David’s place was empty.
26 That day Saul said nothing. He thought, “Maybe something has happened to David so that he is unclean.”
27 But the next day was the second day of the month. And David’s place was empty again. So Saul said to Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the festival yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered, “David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem.