Two very good friends lived in a large country. Their names were David and Jonathan. Jonathan was the son of King Saul. But the king was not always kind to David. Sometimes he was even very angry with him.
One day, Jonathan was worried that his father, the king, was going to hurt David. Then Jonathan had an idea. He said to David, “I’ll be in the field tomorrow. I’m going to shoot an arrow. If I shout, ‘The arrow is farther away!’ it means you have to run away. It’s not safe for you. But if I say, ‘The arrow is closer!’ then it means that everything is fine and you can stay.”
The next day, Jonathan went to the field with a boy. Jonathan shot an arrow with his bow. The boy ran to look for the arrow. Jonathan shouted, “The arrow is farther away!” That was the secret hint to David that he had to flee quickly.
When the boy returned, Jonathan sent him home. Then he met David again briefly. They were both very sad because they could no longer see each other. Jonathan hugged David and said, “We remain friends no matter what. I pray that God will take care of you.” David and Jonathan said goodbye with tears in their eyes, but also with hope in their hearts that God would be with them.
Message of history
Good friends help and protect each other. God wants us to be good friends who are there for each other and help us.
Bible passage
The story of Jonathan and the arrow from 1 Samuel, chapter 20, verses 18-42, describes how Jonathan and David agree on a secret sign with arrows to warn David of the possible danger of Saul:
1 Samuel 20:18-42 (Schlachter 2000):
“18 And Jonathan said to him, ‘Tomorrow is the new moon, and they will ask for you, because your place is empty.’
19 But on the third day, come down quickly, and go to the place where you hid yourself on the day of that plot, and sit there by the stone of Ezel.
20 But I will shoot three arrows at his side, as if I were shooting at a target.
21 And behold, I will send the boy: Go, seek the arrows. If I then call out to the boy, “Behold, the arrows are nearer to you, then fetch them.” so come; for you have peace, and it is good for you, as surely as the Lord lives.
22 But if I say to the young man, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ go; for the Lord has sent you away.
23 But as for the matter of which we have spoken together, behold, the Lord is between me and you forever.
24 And David hid himself in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat down to eat.
25 Then the king sat down on his seat, as usual, on the seat against the wall; But Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat down beside Saul, and David’s place remained empty.
26 But that day Saul said nothing; for he thought, “Something has happened to him; he is not clean; Surely he is not pure!
27 And it came to pass the next day, the second day of the new moon, when David’s place was empty, that Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why did the son of Jesse not come to the meal yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David has asked me to go to Bethlehem.
29 He said, “Let me go.” For we have a sexual sacrifice in the city, and my brother himself has ordered me to come. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me go, that I may see my brethren. That is why he did not come to the king’s table.
30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a rebellious [und] disobedient woman [Frau]! I know very well that you chose the son of Jesse for your own shame and for the shame of your mother’s nakedness.
31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on earth, neither you nor your kingdom will stand. So send now and have him brought to me; for he must die!
32 Jonathan answered his father Saul and said to him, “Why should he die?” What did he do?
33 Then Saul hurled the spear at him to pierce him. Then Jonathan realized that his father had decided to kill David.
34 And Jonathan got up from the table in a burning rage, and on the second day of the new moon ate no bread; for it hurt him for David’s sake, because his father had insulted him.
35 And it came to pass in the morning that Jonathan went out into the field at the appointed time with David, and he had a little boy with him.
36 And he said to the boy, “Run, look for the arrows that I am shooting.” The boy ran, and he shot an arrow over him.
37 And when the boy came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called after the boy, saying, “Behold, the arrow is still before you.”
38 And Jonathan called after the boy, “Quick, hurry, do not stop.” And Jonathan’s boy picked up the arrow and came to his master.
39 But the boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew about the matter.
40 Then Jonathan gave his utensils to the boy who was with him, and said to him, “Go, bring them to the city.”
41 When the boy had gone away, David rose up from the south side, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. and they kissed one another, and wept together, until David became mighty again.
42 And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace.” What we both swore in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed forever.’ [das bleibe bestehen]— !”
