1 Samuel 20:3

20:3 Taking an oath, David again ¹  said, “Your father is very much aware of the fact ²  that I have found favor with you, and he has thought, ³  ‘Don’t let Jonathan know about this, or he will be upset.’ But as surely as the Lord lives and you live, there is about one step between me and death!”

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 24:11

24:11 Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn’t kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning ⁶  evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life.

[20:3]  ¹ tc The LXX and the Syriac Peshitta lack the word “again.”

[20:3]  ² tn The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.

[20:3]  ³ tn Heb “said,” that is, to himself. So also in v. 25.

[20:12]  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).

[20:12]  ⁵ tn Heb “and uncover your ear.”

[24:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “there is not in my hand.”