David

And when Saul sent messengers to take Dauid, she sayd, He is sicke.

And Saul sent the messengers againe to see Dauid, saying, Bring him to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

So Dauid fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him: and he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

But one tolde Saul, saying, Beholde, Dauid is at Naioth in Ramah.

And Saul sent messengers to take Dauid: and when they sawe a company of Prophets prophecying, and Samuel standing as appoynted ouer them, the Spirit of God fell vpon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophecied.

Then went he himselfe to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu, and he asked, and sayd, Where are Samuel and Dauid? and one sayd, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

And Dauid fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and sayd before Ionathan, What haue I done? what is mine iniquitie? and what sinne haue I committed before thy father, that he seeketh my life?

And Dauid sware againe and sayd, Thy father knoweth that I haue found grace in thine eyes: therefore he thinketh, Ionathan shall not knowe it, lest he be sorie: but in deede, as the Lord liueth, and as thy soule liueth, there is but a step betweene me and death.

Then said Ionathan vnto Dauid, Whatsoeuer thy soule requireth, that I wil do vnto thee.

And Dauid said vnto Ionathan, Behold, to morowe is the first day of the moneth, and I shoulde sit with the King at meate: but let me goe, that I may hide my selfe in the fieldes vnto the third day at euen.

If thy father make mention of me, then say, Dauid asked leaue of me, that he might goe to Beth-lehem to his owne citie: for there is a yeerely sacrifice for all that familie.

Then said Dauid to Ionathan, Who shall tell me? how shall I knowe, if thy father answere thee cruelly?

And Ionathan sayde to Dauid, Come and let vs goe out into the fielde: and they twaine went out into the fielde.

Then Ionathan sayde to Dauid, O Lord God of Israel, when I haue groped my fathers minde to morow at this time, or within this three dayes, and if it be well with Dauid, and I then send not vnto thee, and shewe it thee,

But I require that thou cut not off thy mercie from mine house for euer: no, not when the Lord hath destroyed the enemies of Dauid, euery one from the earth.

So Ionathan made a bond with the house of Dauid, saying, Let the Lord require it at the hands of Dauids enemies.

And againe Ionathan sware vnto Dauid, because he loued him (for he loued him as his owne soule)

Then said Ionathan to him, To morowe is the first day of the moneth: and thou shalt be looked for, for thy place shalbe emptie.

So Dauid hid him selfe in the field: and when the first day of the moneth came, the King sate to eate meate.

And the King sate, as at other times vpon his seate, euen vpon his seate by the wall: and Ionathan arose, and Abner sate by Sauls side, but Dauids place was emptie.

But on the morowe which was the second day of the moneth, Dauids place was emptie againe: and Saul sayde vnto Ionathan his sonne, Wherefore commeth not the sonne of Ishai to meate, neither yesterday nor to day?

And Ionathan answered vnto Saul, Dauid required of me, that he might goe to Beth-lehem.

And Saul cast a speare at him to hit him, whereby Ionathan knew, that it was determined of his father to slay Dauid.

So Ionathan arose from the table in a great anger, and did eate no meate the seconde day of the moneth: for he was sorie for Dauid, and because his father had reuiled him.

On the next morning therefore Ionathan than went out into the fielde, at the time appoynted with Dauid, and a litle boy with him.