<t /><p class="bodytext">When David<n id="1" /> had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship.<n id="2" /> Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life.<n id="3" />

Stay with me. Don&#8217;t be afraid! Whoever<n id="1" /> seeks my life is seeking your life as well. You are secure with me.&#8221;p>

In the same way that I valued your life this day,<n id="1" /> may the <sc>Lordsc> value my life<n id="2" /> and deliver me from all danger.&#8221;

She was very upset<n id="1" /> as she prayed to the <sc>Lord,sc> and she was weeping uncontrollably.<n id="2" />

Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life.<n id="1" />

When someone sets out to chase you and to take your life, the life of my lord will be wrapped securely in the bag<n id="1" /> of the living by the <sc>Lordsc> your God. But he will sling away the lives of your enemies from the sling&#8217;s pocket!

Jonathan replied to David, &#8220;Tell me what I can do for you.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

Jonathan once again took an oath with David, because he loved him. In fact Jonathan loved him as much as he did his own life.<n id="1" />

David realized<n id="1" /> that Saul had come out to seek his life; at that time David was in Horesh in the desert of Ziph.p>

Now at your own discretion,<n id="1" /> O king, come down. Delivering him into the king&#8217;s hand will be our responsibility.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">But Hannah replied, &#8220;That&#8217;s not the way it is,<n id="1" /> my lord! I am under a great deal of stress.<n id="2" /> I have drunk neither wine nor beer. Rather, I have poured out my soul to<n id="3" /> the <sc>Lordsc>.

She said, &#8220;Just as surely as you are alive, my lord, I am the woman who previously stood here with you in order to pray to the <sc>Lordsc>.

Any one of you that I do not cut off from my altar, I will cause your<n id="1" /> eyes to fail<n id="2" /> and will cause you grief.<n id="3" /> All of those born to your family<n id="4" /> will die in the prime of life.<n id="5" />

Then I will raise up for myself a faithful priest. He will do what is in my heart and soul. I will build for him a secure dynasty<n id="1" /> and he will serve my chosen one for all time.<n id="2" />

If the individual said to him, &#8220;First let the fat be burned away, and then take for yourself whatever you wish,&#8221; he would say, &#8220;No!<n id="1" /> Hand it over right now! If you don&#8217;t, I will take it forcibly!&#8221;p>

<n id="1" /><p class="bodytext">Now as Saul watched David going out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the general in command of the army, &#8220;Whose son is this young man, Abner?&#8221; Abner replied, &#8220;As surely as you live, O king, I don&#8217;t know.&#8221;

He risked his life<n id="1" /> when he struck down the Philistine and the <sc>Lordsc> gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Saul sent messengers to David&#8217;s house to guard it and to kill him in the morning. Then David&#8217;s wife Michal told him, &#8220;If you do not save yourself<n id="1" /> tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!&#8221;

<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;