שמואל א, פרק כ׳, פסוק ל״ו

During a critical moment in the open field, Jonathan sets in motion a secret plan to signal David about King Saul's true intentions. Using an innocent archery practice as a clever cover story, Jonathan takes his position and orders his young servant to run ahead and retrieve the arrows he is about to shoot [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The primary approach among commentators explains the physical mechanics of this signal. Jonathan fires the arrow with immense force, sending it flying through the air to pass over the running boy and land well beyond their pre-arranged target [רש״י, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Some note that the boy actually begins running after the first arrow is released, and while he is in motion, Jonathan fires another arrow that flies right past him [מצודת דוד]. Shooting the weapon to such a distance is a deliberate tactic. It gives Jonathan the necessary excuse to shout the agreed-upon code words to the boy, secretly alerting the hidden David that his life is in grave danger [מלבי״ם, צאינה וראינה].

The rapid unfolding of these events highlights Jonathan's deep emotional turmoil and inner tension. According to his original plan, he was supposed to shoot three arrows. However, driven by a sense of extreme urgency and a desperate desire to warn his friend without a moment's delay, Jonathan alters his strategy. He settles for shooting just a single arrow and immediately sends the boy running after it [אלשיך].

Given that the two friends ultimately meet face-to-face, the necessity of the arrow signal comes into question. On a psychological level, the entire exercise is designed to remove any trace of suspicion from the servant boy. By firmly establishing the illusion of a routine archery session, Jonathan ensures the boy will never guess the true, secretive nature of their visit to the field [אברבנאל]. Furthermore, Jonathan relies on the arrow signal first because he fears that random passersby might suddenly appear and prevent a direct meeting. Only after he confirms that the field is completely empty does he send the servant back to the city with the weapons. With the area finally secure, the two friends safely emerge from hiding, meet face-to-face, and share a tearful goodbye [רד״ק, אברבנאל, צאינה וראינה].