1 Samuel 20:17

17 And Jonathan again made David swear an oath, because he loved him; for with the love of his soul he loved him.

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 And do not cut off your loyal love from {my family} forever, not [even] when Yahweh {exterminates} each of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."

16 So Jonathan {made a covenant} with the house of David, [saying,] "May Yahweh {call the enemies of David to account}."

17 And Jonathan again made David swear an oath, because he loved him; for with the love of his soul he loved him.

18 Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow [is] the new moon, and you will be missed, for your seat will stay empty.

19 On the third day you must go down quickly and go to the place where you hid yourself {on the day all this started} and remain beside the stone Ezel.