1 Samuel 18:1-4

Saul Comes to Fear David

18:1 When David ¹  had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship. ²  Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life. ³  18:2 Saul retained David ⁴  on that day and did not allow him to return to his father’s house. 18:3 Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life. ⁵  18:4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with the rest of his gear, including his sword, his bow, and even his belt.

1 Samuel 19:2

19:2 So Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying ⁶  to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. Find ⁷  a hiding place and stay in seclusion. ⁸ 

1 Samuel 20:17

20:17 Jonathan once again took an oath with David, because he loved him. In fact Jonathan loved him as much as he did his own life. ⁹ 

1 Samuel 20:41

20:41 When the servant had left, David got up from beside the mound, ¹⁰  knelt ¹¹  with his face to the ground, and bowed three times. Then they kissed each other and they both wept, especially David.

1 Samuel 23:16

23:16 Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him ¹²  through God.

[18:1]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:1]  ² tn Heb “the soul of Jonathan was bound with the soul of David.”

[18:1]  ³ tn Heb “like his [own] soul.”

[18:1]  sn On the nature of Jonathan’s love for David, see J. A. Thompson, “The Significance of the Verb Love in the David-Jonathan Narratives in 1 Samuel,” VT 24 (1974): 334-38.

[18:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “him”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “like his [own] soul.”

[19:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “seeking.”

[19:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “stay in.”

[19:2]  ⁸ tn Heb “and hide yourself.”

[20:17]  ⁹ tn Heb “for [with] the love of his [own] life he loved him.”

[20:41]  ¹⁰ tc The translation follows the LXX in reading “the mound,” rather than the MT’s “the south.” It is hard to see what meaning the MT reading “from beside the south” would have as it stands, since such a location lacks specificity. The NIV treats it as an elliptical expression, rendering the phrase as “from the south side of the stone (rock NCV).” This is perhaps possible, but it seems better to follow the LXX rather than the MT here.

[20:41]  ¹¹ tn Heb “fell.”

[23:16]  ¹² tn Heb “strengthened his hand.”