David and Jonathan: The Arrow Signal

A prince walks into a field with his bow and a small boy at his side. Somewhere nearby, a friend is hiding behind a rock, listening. Everything depends on where the next arrow lands.

David had just defeated Goliath, and King Saul brought him to live at court. Saul's eldest son, Jonathan, was a brave warrior himself, and the moment he met David, something clicked. The Bible says Jonathan's soul was knit to David's, and he loved him as his own soul. The two made a covenant, a solemn promise of friendship before God. Then Jonathan did something remarkable. He took off his own robe and gave it to David, along with his armour, his sword, his bow and his belt. The king's son, dressing the shepherd boy like a prince.

David was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. When the army came home from battle, women poured out of the towns, singing and dancing with tambourines. “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul heard the song, and it burned. “They give David ten thousands and me only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” From that day on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David. More than once, while David played music for him, Saul hurled a spear at him, and David slipped out of the way. Then Saul told Jonathan and his servants that David must die.

Jonathan warned David to hide. Then he went to his father and spoke up for his friend. “Don't sin against David. He has done you nothing but good. He risked his life to fight the Philistine, and the Lord gave Israel a great victory. Why would you kill an innocent man?” Saul listened, and swore, “As the Lord lives, he will not be put to death.” For a while, there was peace. But it didn't last. Again Saul's spear flew, and David had to run for his life.

David found Jonathan in secret. “What have I done? Why does your father want to kill me? There is only a step between me and death.” Jonathan found it hard to believe, but he promised to find out. Tomorrow was the feast of the new moon, when David was expected at the king's table. David would hide in the field instead. Jonathan would watch his father's reaction. Then, on the third day, he would come out to shoot arrows near David's hiding place, by a large stone. If he called to the boy, “The arrows are on this side of you,” David was safe. If he called, “The arrows are beyond you,” David must run. And Jonathan asked one thing in return. “Show kindness to my family, always, even when I'm gone.”

On the first day of the feast, David's seat was empty, and Saul said nothing. On the second day, he asked, “Why hasn't the son of Jesse come?” Jonathan said David had asked leave to go to a family sacrifice in Bethlehem. Saul exploded. “Don't you see? As long as David lives, you will never be king. Bring him to me. He must die.” “Why?” said Jonathan. “What has he done?” And Saul hurled his spear at his own son. Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and ate nothing that day, grieving for his friend.

Next morning Jonathan went out to the field with a boy. “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” He shot an arrow far beyond the boy, and called out, “Isn't the arrow beyond you? Hurry! Don't stop!” The boy gathered the arrows, knowing nothing. Jonathan sent him back to town. Then David came out from behind the stone and bowed to the ground three times. The two friends held each other and wept, David most of all. “Go in peace,” said Jonathan, “for we have sworn friendship in the name of the Lord. The Lord is between you and me, and between our children, for ever.” David slipped away. Jonathan walked back to the city.

Why did an empty seat matter so much? The new moon marked the start of each month in Israel's calendar, and it was kept with sacrifices and a festive meal. The book of Numbers sets out offerings for the beginning of every month, and the prophet Amos mentions people waiting for the new moon to be over before they could trade. At the king's new moon feast, David, as the king's son-in-law and commander, was expected. His absence would be noticed, and that was the whole point of the test.

David and Jonathan. You'll find their story in First Samuel, chapters 18 to 20. Jonathan was the one who stood to gain the throne, and he chose loyalty to his friend instead. So here's the question to carry with you. What kind of friend are you when standing by someone costs you something?