1 Samuel 20:17

17 Once again Jonathan made David promise to love him, for Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.

1 Samuel 20:17 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:17

And Jonathan caused David to swear again
Or Jonathan added to make David swears ^F21; having sworn himself to make a covenant of friendship with David and his family, he moved and insisted on it, that David should swear to keep covenant with him, and his family:

because he loved him;
it was not so much for the good and safety of his offspring that he made this motion, and was so desirous of renewing and enlarging his covenant with David, as it was his strong love and affection for him; being on that account desirous that there might be the strictest friendship imaginable retained between the two families; or he made him swear by his love to him, as some understand it, which is not so likely; the former sense is better, for he himself sware by the Lord, ( 1 Samuel 20:12 1 Samuel 20:13 ) ;

for he loved him as his own soul;
or "with the love of his soul" ^F23; with the most cordial affection, with a truly hearty and sincere love, see ( 1 Samuel 18:1 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 (Poyw) "et addidit", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so the Tigurine version.
F23 (wvpn tbha) "secundum dilectionem animae suae", Pagninus; "amore sui ipsius", Junius & Tremellius.

1 Samuel 20:17 In-Context

15 show the same kind of loyalty to my family forever. And when the Lord has completely destroyed all your enemies,

16 may our promise to each other still be unbroken. If it is broken, the Lord will punish you."

17 Once again Jonathan made David promise to love him, for Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself.

18 Then Jonathan said to him, "Since tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, your absence will be noticed if you aren't at the meal.

19 The day after tomorrow your absence will be noticed even more; so go to the place where you hid yourself the other time, and hide behind the pile of stones there.