1 Samuel 20:15

15 And do not cut off your loyal love from {my family} forever, not [even] when Yahweh {exterminates} each of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."

1 Samuel 20:15 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:15

But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house
for ever
His family should partake of it as well as himself:

no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David, everyone
from the face of the earth;
Saul and his sons, and everyone that should oppose his settlement in the kingdom: Jonathan's meaning is, that the covenant between them should not be only between them personally, but include their posterity, as follows.

1 Samuel 20:15 In-Context

13 {So may Yahweh punish Jonathan and more} if {my father decides to do you harm} and if {I fail to disclose it to you} and send word to you that you can go safely. And may Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.

14 And not while I am still alive, will you not show the loyal love of Yahweh with me, that I may not die?

15 And do not cut off your loyal love from {my family} forever, not [even] when Yahweh {exterminates} each of the enemies of David from the face of the earth."

16 So Jonathan {made a covenant} with the house of David, [saying,] "May Yahweh {call the enemies of David to account}."

17 And Jonathan again made David swear an oath, because he loved him; for with the love of his soul he loved him.

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "my house"
• [b] Literally "cuts off"