h was the new moon, the king, when he had
purified himself, as the custom was, came to supper; and when there sat
by him his son Jonathan on his right hand, and Abner, the captain of
his host, on the other hand, he saw David's seat was empty, but said
nothing, supposing that he had not purified himself since he had
accompanied with his wife, and so could not be present; but when he saw
that he was not there the second day of the month neither, he inquired
of his son Jonathan why the son of Jesse did not come to the supper and
the feast, neither the day before nor that day. So Jonathan said, That
he was gone, according to the agreement between them, to his own city,
where his tribe kept a festival, and that by his permission: that he
also invited him to come to their sacrifice; "and," says Jonathan,
"if thou wilt give me leave, I Will go thither, for thou knowest the
good-will that I bear him." And then it was that Jonathan understood his
father's hatred to David, and plainly saw his entire disposition; for
Saul could not restrain his anger, but reproached Jonathan, and called
him the son of a runagate, and an enemy; and said he was a partner with
David, and his assistant, and that by his behavior he showed he had
no regard to himself, or to his mother, and would not be persuaded of
this,--that while David is alive, their kingdom was not secure to them;
yet did he bid him send for him, that he might be punished. And when
Jonathan said, in answer, "What hath he done that thou wilt punish him?"
Saul no longer contented himself to express his anger in bare words,
but snatched up his spear, and leaped upon him, and was desirous to kill
him. He did not indeed do what he intended, because he was hindered by
his friends; but it appeared plainly to his son that he hated David, and
greatly desired to despatch him, insomuch that he had almost slain his
son with his own hands on his account.

10. And then it was that the king's son rose hastily from supper; and
being unable to admit any thing into his mouth for grief, he wept all
night, both because he had himself been near destruction, and because
the death of David was determined: but as soon as it was day, he went
out into the plain that was before the city, as going to perform his
exercises, but in reality to inform his friend what disposition his
father was in towards him, as he had agreed with him to do; and when
Jonathan had done what had been thus agreed, he dismissed his se