1 Samuel 20:36
And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
After the slaying of Goliath, Saul kept David with him and would not let him return to his father's house. David was entrusted with important responsibilities, yet he preserved modesty and won the affection of the people and the royal household. God's providence connected David with Saul so that by wise behavior he would gain the confidence of the people, and by a long course of hardships and vicissitudes he would learn to put entire trust in God while being prepared to become ruler of his people. The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David in love as for his own soul, in a most sacred bond of union that remained unbroken until the death of Saul and Jonathan. This was the Lord's doing so Jonathan could protect David, and they made a covenant to be united as brethren, with Jonathan giving David his robe and garments, even his sword and bow and girdle.
The verse shows Jonathan meeting David at the appointed spot in the field to tell him Saul's intentions and to preserve David's life when Saul would try to kill him. Conscious of his innocence yet convinced there was but a step between him and death, David hid for three days in a field not far from the banqueting hall during the new moon festival, while Jonathan tested Saul by saying David had gone to Bethlehem for his family's sacrifice. Saul made no inquiry about David's vacant place the first day, but on the second day his ungovernable anger broke out, declaring Jonathan could not come to the throne while David lived and hurling at Jonathan the spear intended for David. That rage decided David's flight. Jonathan came grieving to the meeting place, and he and David fell on each other's necks and wept bitterly under the shadow of Saul's dark passion, then separated with the covenant oath that the Lord would be between them and between their seed forever.