1 Samuel 20:14

14 You shall not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of the LORD, that I not die;

1 Samuel 20:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:14

And thou shalt not only, while yet I live, show me the
kindness of the Lord
Such kindness as is well pleasing in the sight of God, and imitate what he shows to men, and which was covenanted, promised, and agreed to in the presence of the Lord, when David and Jonathan entered into covenant with each other; this Jonathan did not doubt of, and therefore did not make this a request:

that I die not;
he had no fear nor dread on his mind, should David come to the throne while he was alive, that he would take away his life; which was usually done by tyrants and usurpers, when there were any that had a fairer title, and better claim to the throne than they.

1 Samuel 20:14 In-Context

12 Yonatan said to David, the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, [be witness]: when I have sounded my father about this time tomorrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send to you, and disclose it to you?

13 The LORD do so to Yonatan, and more also, should it please my father to do you evil, if I don't disclose it to you, and send you away, that you may go in shalom: and the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father.

14 You shall not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of the LORD, that I not die;

15 but also you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever; no, not when the LORD has cut off the enemies of David everyone from the surface of the eretz.

16 So Yonatan made a covenant with the house of David, [saying], the LORD will require it at the hand of David's enemies.