(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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1 Samuel 20:24–34, “So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem: And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table. Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.”
When Jonathan went back to the king palace, David his in the fields. He had been a shepherd for many years and also was an experienced soldier so he was used to living out in the open. After a few days it was time for the new moon festival and the king’s senior advisors and staff were expected to celebrate the new lunar month by eating with the king. On the first day of the new moon Saul wasn’t too concerned because he thought that David may have done something to make him ceremonially impure so that he could not attend the meal. On the second day, Saul was upset and asked Jonathan why David hadn’t attended, as protocol demanded. Jonathan had agreed with David that they would say that David had to attend to his own family business. When Saul heard what his son said, he suspected that Jonathan had conspired with David to that David could escape his death sentence. Saul abused Jonathan for not protecting his own interests as the heir to the throne but protecting another contender for the throne instead. Jonathan asked his father why David was to be executed even though he hadn’t done anything wrong. Saul told Jonathan that his responsibility was to find David and bring him to be killed. Saul was so angry that he tried to kill his own son for protecting David. Jonathan was very angry because he knew that Saul was intending to betray David even though David was loyal and honourable.
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