Saul is starting to become seriously unhinged. What was at first envy and jealousy of his junior associate David has blossomed into full-fledged paranoia. He wants David dead. David is aware that Saul is out to get him, but Jonathan doesn't see the evil in his father. Jonathan and David make a pact - a covenant - to watch out for each other.
David and Jonathan forge a secret agreement. Jonathan proposes that David hide himself out in the field for a few days and not return to Saul's table. They reason that if Saul is okay with David's absence, then he will be peaceable toward him. But if Saul gets angry, it means that Saul wants to destroy him (vs. 7).
Jonathan and David make an elaborate arrangement to communicate the results of this test. Along the way, Jonathan asks David to swear to always show love to his family in case something happens to him. David agrees (vs. 17).
Jonathan is sorely disappointed to discover that David is right about his father. Though Saul doesn't say anything the first night (believing that David had excused himself for reasons of uncleanness), he becomes enraged when David is absent for a second night. Jonathan gives the cover story - that David has returned to Bethlehem for a family sacrifice - but Saul is not satisfied. Turning his anger to Jonathan, he yells at him, insults his mother, and tries to hit him with his spear (vs. 30-33). Then Jonathan realizes that his father is a lost cause; he is determined to destroy David after all.
Jonathan returns to the field and communicates the outcome to David. Weeping, they again pledge their mutual loyalty to one another before David escapes into the wilderness, running for his life (vs. 42).
You may wonder why Saul was so upset by David's absence. What was that about? I think that Saul wanted to keep David close, viewing him as a rival to the throne. His absence could mean that he was out recruiting an army for an insurrection or sowing seeds of rebellion among the people. Saul was apparently a believer in with the Godfather's old adage: Keep your friends close but your enemies closer. With David on the loose, Saul felt the security of his kingdom was in jeopardy of slipping away.
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