1 Samuel 18:1

1 Saul and David finished their conversation. After that, Saul's son Jonathan was deeply attracted to David and came to love him as much as he loved himself.

1 Samuel 18:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:1

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto
Saul
In answer to his questions about his descent and family, and doubtless more things were talked of than are recorded:

that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David:
he won his heart, made a conquest of his affections, these went out towards him, and cleaved unto him; such were the comeliness of his person, his graceful mien and deportment, his freedom and fluency of expression, his courage and undauntedness, joined with prudence, modesty, and integrity, that they strongly attached him to him:

and Jonathan loved him as his own soul;
not only according to the excellency of David's soul, and the greatness of it, as that deserved respect and love, as Abarbinel suggests, but he loved him as he loved himself. There was a similarity in their persons, in their age, in the dispositions of their minds, in their wisdom, courage, modesty, faithfulness, and openness of soul, that attracted them to each other, that they became as another self; as one soul, as Aristotle speaks F18 of true friends: instances of very cordial friendship are given by Plutarch F19, as in Theseus and Pirithous, Achilles and Patroclus, Orestes and Pylades, Pythias and Damon, Epaminondas and Pelopidas; but none equal to this.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 Ethic. l. 9. c. 4, 9. So Porphyr. de Vita Pythagor.
F19 Apud Patrick in loc.

1 Samuel 18:1 In-Context

1 Saul and David finished their conversation. After that, Saul's son Jonathan was deeply attracted to David and came to love him as much as he loved himself.
2 Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him go back home.
3 Jonathan swore eternal friendship with David because of his deep affection for him.
4 He took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, together with his armor and also his sword, bow, and belt.
5 David was successful in all the missions on which Saul sent him, and so Saul made him an officer in his army. This pleased all of Saul's officers and men.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.