1 Samuel 20:1-2

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!”

[20:1]  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.”