1 Samuel 18:1-5

Jonathan and David

1 As soon as David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan's life became bound up with David's life, and Jonathan cared about David as much as he cared about himself.
2 From that point forward, Saul kept David in his service and wouldn't allow him to return to his father's household.
3 And Jonathan and David made a covenant together because Jonathan cared about David as much as he cared about himself.
4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his armor, as well as his sword, his bow, and his belt.
5 David went out and was successful in every mission Saul sent him to do. So Saul placed him in charge of the soldiers, and this pleased all the troops as well as Saul's servants.

1 Samuel 18:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 18

This chapter gives an account of the respect shown to David by Saul and Jonathan, by the servants of Saul, and all the people, and of what was said in his praise in the songs of the women, 1Sa 18:1-7; which latter gave Saul a great offence, and upon which he envied him, and eyed him, and indeed sought his life, and removed him from him; and yet still he continued the darling of the people, behaving wisely among them, which greatly embarrassed Saul, that be knew not what to do, 1Sa 18:8-16; he proposed his eldest daughter to him in marriage, which he had a claim to by killing the Philistine, and then he cheated him by giving her to another, 1Sa 18:17-19; and then he offered his youngest daughter to him, on condition that he would bring him an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, execution of which he thought his life would be exposed to danger, which yet he performed, 1Sa 18:20-27; and having the affection of his wife, and the good esteem of the servants of Saul, Saul was more afraid of him, and became his enemy, 1Sa 18:28-30.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or soul; also twice more in this verse and in 18:3
  • [b]. The following verses are absent from LXXB: 18:1-5, 10-11, 17-19, 29b-30.
  • [c]. MT lacks in his service.
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