1 Samuel 19:6

6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore, "{As Yahweh lives}, he will not be put to death!"

1 Samuel 19:6 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 19:6

And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan
Not only heard him out what he had to say, but was affected with it, and wrought upon by it, and was convicted for the present that he was wrong in seeking the life of David, and therefore would desist from it; the Lord working upon his mind by what Jonathan said, and inclined him to listen to it, and act accordingly:

and Saul sware, [as] the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain;
this oath he added to what he said to Jonathan, for the confirmation of it; and which was taken either with a real intention to keep it, though that intention did not long continue; or with a view to deceive Jonathan, that he might acquaint David with it, and so prevent his flight and escape, and that he might the more easily fall into his hands; but the former seems rather to be the case.

1 Samuel 19:6 In-Context

4 So Jonathan spoke well about David to his father Saul and said to him, "The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his service for you [has been] very good.

5 He put his life in his hand and attacked the Philistine, and Yahweh brought about a great victory for all of Israel, and you saw [it] and rejoiced! Now why should you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?"

6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and swore, "{As Yahweh lives}, he will not be put to death!"

7 Jonathan called to David and told him all of these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul and he was before him as {formerly}.

8 War came again, so David went out and fought against [the] Philistines and {defeated them thoroughly} so that they fled before him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "the life of Yahweh"