David and Jonathan Become Friends
After David defeated Goliath, he met Jonathan, the son of King Saul. Jonathan and David quickly became close friends. Jonathan cared deeply for David and gave him his own robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt as a sign of their friendship.
David served King Saul well and became a successful leader. The people cheered for him, and this made Saul jealous and angry. Saul began to fear that David might take his place as king. Even though Saul treated David badly, David continued to serve him faithfully.
Jonathan Tries to Help
Jonathan did not want his father to hurt his friend. He spoke kindly to Saul and reminded him that David had helped the kingdom. For a while, Saul listened, and David was safe again.
But Saul’s anger returned. When David escaped another attack, he went to Jonathan and asked why Saul wanted to kill him. Jonathan promised to find out what his father was planning and to tell David the truth.
A Secret Warning
Jonathan and David agreed on a plan. David would hide in a field while Jonathan went to a special meal with Saul. If Saul seemed calm, Jonathan would bring David a message that it was safe. If Saul became furious, Jonathan would warn David to run away.
At the meal, Saul became angry when David was not there. He even became angry with Jonathan for protecting his friend. Jonathan realized that David was truly in danger.
The next day, Jonathan went to the field with a young helper and shot arrows. He called out that the arrows had gone farther away. This was the secret warning: David must escape.
A Sad Goodbye
After the helper left, David came out of hiding. Jonathan and David said goodbye and cried because they knew they might not see each other for a long time. They promised to remain loyal friends and to care for each other’s families.
Then David left to stay safe, and Jonathan returned home. Their friendship stayed strong, even though they had to be apart.