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1 Samuel 20 · Preschool

The Arrow Signal

Name Date

Color Jonathan and the boy in the field! Jonathan sent a secret signal to David.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“He said to his boy, “Run, find now the arrows which I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.”

1 Samuel 20:36 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Jonathan used arrows to tell David he needed to go. He was a loyal friend even when it was sad. God gives us friends to help us.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

1 Samuel 20 · Kindergarten

Loyal Friends

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace each word with your pencil.

ARROWS
BOY
FIELD
FRIEND
Jonathan said to David, “Come! Let’s go out into the field.” They both went out into the field.

1 Samuel 20:11 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each word to its picture.

JONATHAN
BOY
STONE
MOON

Mini Maze

Help find the way through the maze.

Draw It

Draw a way you can be loyal to a friend.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loyal friends. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What makes someone a good friend?
  • How can you show a friend you care?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

1 Samuel 20 · Grade 1

A Secret Signal

Name Date

Trace the Words

Trace the words and the verse.

ARROWS
FIELD
MOON
PEACE
Jonathan said to David, “Come! Let’s go out into the field.” They both went out into the field.

1 Samuel 20:11 (WEB)

Match the Pictures

Draw a line from each sentence to its picture.

It was time for the new moon feast.
Saul was angry at Jonathan.
A boy ran to find the arrows.
David hid by a stone.
David and Jonathan wept together.

Best Friends

Write the number 1 to 4 in each circle to show the right order.

The friends part in peace

Jonathan shoots arrows for the boy

David tells Jonathan of his danger

Jonathan loves David as his own soul

Draw a way you can be loyal to a friend.

Memory Verse

“Jonathan said to David, “Come! Let’s go out into the field.” They both went out into the field.”

1 Samuel 20:11 (WEB)

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loyal friends. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What was Jonathan's secret signal?
  • Why were David and Jonathan sad?
  • What would you like to say to God about this chapter?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

1 Samuel 20 · Grade 2

The Arrows

Name Date

Read the Story

David asked Jonathan why Saul wanted to hurt him. Jonathan said he would find out. He made a plan. He would shoot arrows in the field. The arrows would be a sign for David.

At the new moon feast, David's seat was empty. Saul was very angry with Jonathan. Now Jonathan knew. His father wanted to hurt David.

In the morning, Jonathan went to the field with a boy. He shot an arrow past the boy. That meant David had to go. David and Jonathan cried together. They said goodbye in peace.

Memory Verse

“He said to his boy, “Run, find now the arrows which I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.”

1 Samuel 20:36 (WEB)

Show What You Know

Circle the right answer, or write it on the lines.

  1. What did Jonathan shoot in the field?

    ArrowsIn peacePast the boy

  2. Whose seat was empty at the feast?

    David'sIn peaceA boy

  3. Who went to the field with Jonathan?

    David'sPast the boyA boy

  4. Where did Jonathan shoot the arrow?

    A boyDavid'sPast the boy

  5. How did David and Jonathan say goodbye?

    A boyIn peaceDavid's

Word Search

Find and circle each word. Words go across and down.

CJYDAVIDIAFOMWEPTGKRINMIPBJLOREAOLOBPGPOLTKYJENYRWDHHJATLYSSIAFCWLCHMOONEIRMCABPH
  • JONATHAN
  • ARROWS
  • FIELD
  • DAVID
  • PEACE
  • MOON
  • WEPT
  • BOY

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loyal friends. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • Why did Saul get angry at the feast?
  • How can you be a true friend?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

1 Samuel 20 · Grade 3

A Covenant of Kindness

Name Date

Read the Story

David fled from Naioth and asked Jonathan what he had done that Saul sought his life. Jonathan promised to do whatever David desired. David would hide during the new moon feast. If Saul was angry about David's absence, they would know Saul meant harm.

Jonathan asked David to show him the loving kindness of the Lord, even to his family forever. Jonathan made David swear again, because he loved him as his own soul. He planned to shoot three arrows. If he told the boy the arrows were beyond him, David must go.

On the second day of the feast, Saul raged at Jonathan and threw his spear at him. Then Jonathan knew Saul was determined to put David to death. In the morning he shot an arrow beyond the boy. David came out, bowed three times, and they kissed and wept. Jonathan said, Go in peace.

Memory Verse

“Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” He arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.”

1 Samuel 20:42 (WEB)

Answer the Questions

  1. When would David hide?

  2. What did Jonathan ask David to show his family?

  3. How many arrows did Jonathan plan to shoot?

  4. What did Saul do at the feast?

  5. What did Jonathan say as they parted?

Best Friends

Write what happened in each box.

1
2
3
4

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loyal friends. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How can you keep a promise to a friend's family?
  • What does loving kindness look like in a friendship?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

1 Samuel 20 · Grade 4

Faithful Friendship

Name Date

Read and Think

David was convinced there was only a step between him and death. Jonathan struggled to believe his father would harm David, but he promised to find out. The two friends planned a secret signal using arrows during the new moon feast.

In the field, Jonathan looked ahead. He knew David would one day be king. He asked David to show loving kindness to his family forever, and they made a covenant between their houses. Jonathan loved David as his own soul.

At the feast, Saul called Jonathan the son of a rebellious woman and said that as long as David lived, Jonathan's kingdom would not be established. When Jonathan defended David, Saul threw his spear at his own son. Jonathan shot the arrows as planned, and the friends parted in tears, trusting the Lord to be between them forever.

Show What You Know

  1. How close did David feel to death?

  2. What did Jonathan know about David's future?

  3. What did Saul say about Jonathan's kingdom?

  4. What did the friends trust as they parted?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

fieldarrowsJonathanDavid
  1. was convinced there was only a step between him and death.
  2. struggled to believe his father would harm David, but he promised to find out.
  3. The two friends planned a secret signal using during the new moon feast.
  4. In the , Jonathan looked ahead.

Think About It

  1. Jonathan chose loyalty to David over his own chance to be king. What does that teach about true friendship?

  2. How can you be a loyal friend even when it costs you something?

Memory Verse

“Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had for him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.”

1 Samuel 20:17 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loyal friends. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • How can you stay friends with someone your family does not like?
  • What would it look like to stand by a friend who is being treated unfairly?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.

1 Samuel 20 · Grade 5

Yahweh Is Between Me and You

Name Date

Read and Think

Chapter 20 is a portrait of covenant friendship under pressure. David came to Jonathan in fear, saying there was but a step between him and death. Jonathan, still hoping the best of his father, pledged to do whatever David desired. They arranged a test: David would be absent from the new moon feast, and Saul's reaction would reveal his intent.

Jonathan's words in the field look to the future. He asked David not only to show him the loving kindness of Yahweh while he lived, but never to cut off that kindness from his house forever, even when Yahweh had cut off David's enemies. Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David and caused David to swear again, for the love that he had for him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

At the feast, Saul's rage exposed his heart. He insulted Jonathan and argued that David's survival threatened Jonathan's kingdom. When Jonathan asked, Why should he be put to death? What has he done? Saul cast his spear at him. The arrows sent beyond the boy carried the message: David must go. Their parting was full of grief, but Jonathan sent David away with the covenant words: Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.

Show What You Know

  1. What test did David and Jonathan arrange?

  2. What did Jonathan ask David never to cut off?

  3. What did Jonathan ask when he defended David?

  4. What were the covenant words at their parting?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

DavidJonathanarrows
  1. David came to in fear, saying there was but a step between him and death.
  2. Jonathan, still hoping the best of his father, pledged to do whatever desired.
  3. The sent beyond the boy carried the message: David must go.

Think About It

  1. Jonathan put God at the center of his friendship. How can God be at the center of your friendships?

  2. Jonathan gave up a throne out of love and faith. What might God be asking you to give up?

Memory Verse

“Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have both sworn in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘Yahweh is between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” He arose and departed; and Jonathan went into the city.”

1 Samuel 20:42 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for loyal friends. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

  • What does it mean that Yahweh is between two friends?
  • How does trusting God's plan help you let go of your own wants?
  • What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org. © 2026 The Daily Rooted. Free to print and copy for church and home use; not for resale. Original line art.