1 Samuel 9:3

9:3 The donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, ¹  so Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go ²  look for the donkeys.” ³ 

1 Samuel 20:9

20:9 Jonathan said, “Far be it from you to suggest this! If I were at all aware that my father had decided to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you about it?”

1 Samuel 20:12

20:12 Jonathan said to David, “The Lord God of Israel is my witness. ⁴  I will feel out my father about this time the day after tomorrow. If he is favorably inclined toward David, will I not then send word to you and let you know? ⁵ 

1 Samuel 22:3

22:3 Then David went from there to Mizpah in Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother stay ⁶  with you until I know what God is going to do for me.”

1 Samuel 22:15

22:15 Was it just today that I began to inquire of God on his behalf? Far be it from me! The king should not accuse ⁷  his servant or any of my father’s house. For your servant is not aware of all this – not in whole or in part!” ⁸ 

¹ tn Heb “became lost.”

² tn Heb “and arise, go.”

³ tc The Syriac Peshitta includes the following words: “So Saul arose and went out. He took with him one of the boys and went out to look for his father’s donkeys.”

⁴ tc The Hebrew text has simply “the Lord God of Israel.” On the basis of the Syriac version, many reconstruct the text to read “[is] my witness,” which may have fallen out of the text by homoioarcton (an error which is entirely possible if עֵד, ’ed, “witness,” immediately followed ַָדוִד, “David,” in the original text).

⁵ tn Heb “and uncover your ear.”

⁷ tn Heb “go forth.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “set a matter against.”

¹¹ tn Heb “small or great.”