The Prince: Jonathan Read Online Free PDF Page A

side like a sword. Samuel turned him toward the people. Saul’s jaw locked as he looked out over the thousands upon thousands staring at him. He looked but said nothing.
    Jonathan was filled with pride as he observed his father. No one could say that he had coveted the power of kingship. Saul had all the eagerness of a man who had just received a sentence of death. But no man among all Israel looked more like a king than Saul, son of Kish.
    Whatever it takes, Lord, help me to help my father , Jonathan prayed. Give me strength when he needs protection. Give me wisdom when he needs counsel. Put mighty men around him, warriors who fear You and will faithfully serve the king .

    Jonathan thought their lives would change, but as soon as the family reached Gibeah, his father turned to his field, leaving without orders those who returned with them and were eager to do the king’s bidding. They built camps around the town and waited.
    “Are you going to copy the Law, Father?”
    “The fields must come first.”
    Troubled, Jonathan went to his mother. “The seer commanded it, Mother. Surely Samuel will be displeased if Father doesn’t do it.”
    “Saul is king of Israel now, Jonathan, and every king does what is pleasing in his own sight. If your father won’t copy the Law, there’s nothing you can do about it. Do not waste time arguing with him. As strong as Kish is, has your grandfather ever won a battle with Saul?”
    “No.”
    “Your father had no ambitions to be king, but whether he likes it or not, he is. And whether you want to be or not, you are the prince, heir to the throne.”
    His mother was shrewd. Everything she said meant something. “What are you saying, Mother? I would prefer you tell me outright.”
    She spread her hands. “Is it for a woman to tell a man what he should do?”
    “All I want is to serve Father.”
    She folded her hands in her lap and smiled enigmatically. “Then serve him.”
    Ah. If the Law must be written and his father had no time to do it, then he must.
    He went out into the field and asked permission to go to the school of prophets in Naioth. Saul nodded. “Finish the task as quickly as possible and come home.” He embraced Jonathan, kissed him, and let him go.
    By the time Jonathan returned to the house, his mother had already made preparations for his journey.

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TWO
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    Jonathan unrolled the scroll a little farther, secured it, and carefully dipped his stylus into the ink. He copied each letter, jot, and tittle exactly as it was written in the Law handed down by Moses. His lip was raw from chewing on it, the back of his neck ached, and his shoulder muscles were knotted; but he finished the line, set the stylus aside, and leaned back, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
    “Enough for today.”
    Startled, Jonathan glanced up and saw Samuel watching him. The seer’s face was solemn, his eyes glowing with inner fire. Jonathan never felt at ease when he looked into Samuel’s face, this man who heard the voice of God and spoke His Word to the people.
    As Jonathan stood, Samuel took the scroll, rolled it carefully, placed it inside its covering, and put it away.
    “The letter of the Law is important, my prince, but you must also understand what it says.”
    Jonathan recited, “‘Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.’” He saw the frown that crossed the seer’s face and felt heat flood his own. Had Samuel thought him impertinent, or worse—disrespectful? Jonathan wished he had not said something that might be misconstrued as criticism of the prophets’ sons, whose reputations were as different from Samuel’s as the sun was from the earth. Jonathan swallowed hard, debating. If he apologized, he might have to explain.
    “You walked all the way to this school of prophets to copy the Law. Why not one closer to home?”
    “You were here, my lord.”
    Samuel’s eyes darkened. “Do not call me