1 Samuel 20

“And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.” Naming David and Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat…” Naming David and Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city…” Naming Beth and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and…” Naming Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD , that I die not:” The line’s distinctive content terms include kindness, live, LORD. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.” Naming David and Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows…” The line’s distinctive content terms include arrows, expressly, find. Its relationship to verses 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee…” The line’s distinctive content terms include arrows, LORD, young. Its relationship to verses 23 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, matter, touching. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by…” Naming Abner and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely…” Naming Nevertheless and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:” Naming Beth and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.” Naming David and Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.” Naming Run keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to…” Naming Jonathan and Make keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.” Naming David and Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.” Naming Jonathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD , saying, The…” Naming Jonathan and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.