1 Samuel 20:42

42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. In the name of the LORD we have taken an oath. We've promised to be friends. We've said, 'The LORD is a witness between you and me. He's a witness between your children and my children forever.' " Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

1 Samuel 20:42 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 20:42

And Jonathan said to David, go in peace
In peace of mind, committing himself, his family, and affairs, to the providence of God, who would take care of him, and keep him in safety from the evil designs of Saul; and particularly he would have him be easy with respect to what had passed between them two, not doubting but it would be faithfully observed on both sides:

forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord:
had made a covenant with each other by an oath, in the name and presence of God as a witness to it:

saying, the Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy
seed for ever;
as a witness of the agreement between them, including them and their offspring, and as a revenger of such that should break it. The Targum is,

``the Word of the Lord be between thee and me''

and he arose and departed;
that is, David arose from the ground, and took his leave of Jonathan, and departed into the country for the safety of his person and life:

and Jonathan went into the city;
into the city of Gibeah, where Saul dwelt and had his court.

1 Samuel 20:42 In-Context

40 Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy. He told him, "Go back to town. Take the weapons with you."

41 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone. He bowed down in front of Jonathan with his face to the ground. He did it three times. Then they kissed each other and cried. But David cried more than Jonathan did.

42 Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. In the name of the LORD we have taken an oath. We've promised to be friends. We've said, 'The LORD is a witness between you and me. He's a witness between your children and my children forever.' " Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.