1 Samuel 23:18

18 Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord's presence.^[a] Afterwards, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

1 Samuel 23:18 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 23:18

And they two made a covenant before the Lord
Renewed the covenant they had before made in the name and fear of God, and before him as a witness of it. Kimchi and Abarbinel interpret this phrase,

before the Lord,
of the covenant being made before Abiathar, with the Urim and Thummim in his hand; and so Jerom ^F16, before Gad the prophet, and Abiathar who wore the ephod:

and David abode in the wood;
being a proper place for him for secrecy and safety:

and Jonathan went to his house;
in Gibeah; and these two dear and cordial friends never saw one another more, as is highly probable.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 76. K.

1 Samuel 23:18 In-Context

16 Then Saul's son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in [his faith in] God,

17 saying, "Don't be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I'll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true."

18 Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord's presence. Afterwards, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

19 Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon.

20 Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king."

Footnotes

• [a]. 1 Sm 18:3; 20:12-17; 20:42