that his infatuation for David would cause his own and his family's ruin. To the command to send for him for

the avowed purpose of his murder, Jonathan with characteristic frankness and generosity replied by

pleading his cause, on which the fury of the king rose to such a pitch, that he poised his javelin against his

own son, as formerly against David.

Jonathan had left the feast in moral indignation at the scene which had taken place before the whole court.

But deeper far was his grief for the wrong done to his friend. That day of feasting became one of fasting to

Jonathan. Next morning he went to give the preconcerted signal of danger. But he could not so part from his

friend. Sending back the lad to the city with his bow, quiver, and arrows, the two friends once more met, but

for a moment. There was not time for lengthened s peech; the danger was urgent. They were not unmanly

tears which the two wept, "till David wept loudly."  192

The parting must be brief - only just sufficient for Jonathan to remind his friend of their covenant of

friendship in God, to Whose care he now commended him. Then Jonathan retraced his lonely way to the

city, while David hastened on his flight southward to Nob. Only once again, and that in sadly altered

circumstances, did these two noblest men in Israel meet.