1 Samuel 20:1-4

Jonathan Seeks to Protect David

20:1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, ¹  “What have I done? What is my offense? ²  How have I sinned before your father? For he is seeking my life!”

20:2 Jonathan ³  said to him, “By no means are you going to die! My father does nothing ⁴  large or small without making me aware of it. ⁵  Why would my father hide this matter from me? It just won’t happen!”

20:3 Taking an oath, David again ⁶  said, “Your father is very much aware of the fact ⁷  that I have found favor with you, and he has thought, ⁸  ‘Don’t let Jonathan know about this, or he will be upset.’ But as surely as the Lord lives and you live, there is about one step between me and death!” 20:4 Jonathan replied to David, “Tell me what I can do for you.” ⁹ 

[20:1]  ¹ tn Heb “and he came and said before Jonathan.”

[20:1]  ² tn Heb “What is my guilt?”

[20:2]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jonathan) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:2]  ⁴ tc The translation follows the Qere, many medieval Hebrew mss, and the ancient versions in reading “he will not do,” rather than the Kethib of the MT (“do to him”).

[20:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “without uncovering my ear.”

[20:3]  ⁶ tc The LXX and the Syriac Peshitta lack the word “again.”

[20:3]  ⁷ tn The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.

[20:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “said,” that is, to himself. So also in v. 25.

[20:4]  ⁹ tn Heb “whatever your soul says, I will do for you.”