1 Samuel 20:38
“Jonathan cried after the boy, “Go fast! Hurry! Don’t delay!” Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.”
What does 1 Samuel 20:38 mean?
David and Jonathan had a plan: Jonathan would shoot arrows as a secret signal to tell David whether it was safe for him to stay in King Saul's court or flee for his life. This moment comes right after Jonathan has shot the arrows and sent his young servant to retrieve them, while David hid nearby watching. By calling out urgently to his servant to hurry, Jonathan was actually sending a message to David in code, letting him know that danger was real and he needed to leave immediately. It's a poignant reminder of how these two friends communicated their love and loyalty even in moments of fear and separation, using what seemed like an ordinary errand to mask something far more serious.