<t /><n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">Then David asked, &#8220;Is anyone still left from the family<n id="2" /> of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?&#8221;p>

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed low with his face toward the ground.<n id="1" /> David said, &#8220;Mephibosheth?&#8221; He replied, &#8220;Yes, at your service.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<p class="bodytext">The king said to Zadok the priest, &#8220;Are you a seer?<n id="1" /> Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar&#8217;s son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar.<n id="2" />

Furthermore, their two sons are there with them, Zadok&#8217;s son Ahimaaz and Abiathar&#8217;s son Jonathan. You must send them to me with any information you hear.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

David<n id="1" /> brought the bones of Saul and of Jonathan his son from there; they also gathered up the bones of those who had been executed.p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king&#8217;s storehouses;p> <p class="bodytext">Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the towns, and in the towers.p>

<p class="bodytext">Jonathan, David&#8217;s uncle, was a wise adviser and scribe;<n id="1" />p> <p class="bodytext">Jehiel son of Hacmoni cared for<n id="2" /> the king&#8217;s sons.p>

They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram.

The officials were very angry<n id="1" /> at Jeremiah. They had him flogged and put in prison in the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary, which they had converted into a place for confining prisoners.<n id="2" />p>

But now please listen, your royal Majesty,<n id="1" /> and grant my plea for mercy.<n id="2" /> Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary. If you do, I will die there.&#8221;<n id="3" />

If they do this, tell<n id="1" /> them, &#8216;I was pleading with the king not to send me back to die in the dungeon of Jonathan&#8217;s house.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">Jonathan said to his armor bearer, &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the <sc>Lordsc> will intervene<n id="1" /> for us. Nothing can prevent the <sc>Lordsc> from delivering, whether by many or by a few.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">So Jonathan spoke on David&#8217;s behalf<n id="1" /> to his father Saul. He said to him, &#8220;The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial<n id="2" /> for you.

<t /><p class="bodytext">David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked,<n id="1" /> &#8220;What have I done? What is my offense?<n id="2" /> How have I sinned before your father? For he is seeking my life!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Taking an oath, David again<n id="1" /> said, &#8220;Your father is very much aware of the fact<n id="2" /> that I have found favor with you, and he has thought,<n id="3" /> &#8216;Don&#8217;t let Jonathan know about this, or he will be upset.&#8217; But as surely as the <sc>Lordsc> lives and you live, there is about one step between me and death!&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">David said to Jonathan, &#8220;Tomorrow is the new moon, and I am certainly expected to join the king for a meal.<n id="1" /> You must send me away so I can hide in the field until the third evening from now.

<p class="bodytext">Jonathan said, &#8220;Far be it from you to suggest this! If I were at all aware that my father had decided to harm you, wouldn&#8217;t I tell you about it?&#8221;

Jonathan said to David, &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel is my witness.<n id="1" /> 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?<n id="2" />

But if my father intends to do you harm, may the <sc>Lordsc> do all this and more to Jonathan, if I don&#8217;t let you know<n id="1" /> and send word to you so you can go safely on your way.<n id="2" /> May the <sc>Lordsc> be with you, as he was with my father.

But the next morning, the second day of the new moon, David&#8217;s place was still vacant. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, &#8220;Why has Jesse&#8217;s son not come to the meal yesterday or today?&#8221;p>