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David said to Jonathan, ‘Tomorrow we have a special meal because of the new moon.[a] I should go and eat this meal with the king. Instead, let me go and hide in the field. I will stay there until the third evening. Your father may see that I am not at the meal. If he does, say to him, “David asked me to let him go to his home in Bethlehem. His family offer a sacrifice there at this time every year.” Your father may say, “That is good.” If he says that, I will know that I am safe. But if he becomes very angry, we will know that he has decided to hurt me.

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Footnotes

  1. 20:5 Numbers 10:10; 28:11-15 tell us about the special offerings at the time of the new moon.

So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast,(A) and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide(B) in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission(C) to hurry to Bethlehem,(D) his hometown, because an annual(E) sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper,(F) you can be sure that he is determined(G) to harm me.

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