1 Samuel 18:3

3 Y'honatan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as he did himself.

1 Samuel 18:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:3

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant
A covenant of friendship; entered into a solemn agreement to keep up and maintain a cordial respect to each other, and to support each other's interest both in life and after death, whoever was the survivor; and in consequence of this David had a friend at court, when Saul fell out with him, and who pleaded his cause, and discovered his father's plots, and was the means of preserving David's life:

because he loved him as his own soul;
so that this covenant was not founded in mere words, but in sincere and cordial affection, and was lasting and inviolable.

1 Samuel 18:3 In-Context

1 By the time David had finished speaking to Sha'ul, Y'honatan found himself inwardly drawn by David's character, so that Y'honatan loved him as he did himself.

2 That day, Sha'ul took David into his service and would not let him go home to his father's house any more.

3 Y'honatan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as he did himself.

4 Y'honatan removed the cloak he was wearing and gave it to David, his armor too, including his sword, bow and belt.

5 David would go out, and no matter where Sha'ul sent him, he was successful. Sha'ul put him in charge of the fighting men; all the people thought it good, and so did Sha'ul's servants.