1 Samuele 18:1

1 Come Davide ebbe finito di parlare con Saul, l’anima di Gionathan rimase così legata all’anima di lui, che Gionathan l’amò come l’anima sua.

1 Samuele 18:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:1

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto
Saul
In answer to his questions about his descent and family, and doubtless more things were talked of than are recorded:

that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David:
he won his heart, made a conquest of his affections, these went out towards him, and cleaved unto him; such were the comeliness of his person, his graceful mien and deportment, his freedom and fluency of expression, his courage and undauntedness, joined with prudence, modesty, and integrity, that they strongly attached him to him:

and Jonathan loved him as his own soul;
not only according to the excellency of David's soul, and the greatness of it, as that deserved respect and love, as Abarbinel suggests, but he loved him as he loved himself. There was a similarity in their persons, in their age, in the dispositions of their minds, in their wisdom, courage, modesty, faithfulness, and openness of soul, that attracted them to each other, that they became as another self; as one soul, as Aristotle speaks ^F18 of true friends: instances of very cordial friendship are given by Plutarch ^F19, as in Theseus and Pirithous, Achilles and Patroclus, Orestes and Pylades, Pythias and Damon, Epaminondas and Pelopidas; but none equal to this.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Ethic. l. 9. c. 4, 9. So Porphyr. de Vita Pythagor.
F19 Apud Patrick in loc.

1 Samuele 18:1 In-Context

1 Come Davide ebbe finito di parlare con Saul, l’anima di Gionathan rimase così legata all’anima di lui, che Gionathan l’amò come l’anima sua.

2 Da quel giorno Saul lo tenne presso di sé e non permise più ch’ei se ne tornasse a casa di suo padre.

3 E Gionathan fece alleanza con Davide, perché lo amava come l’anima propria.

4 Quindi Gionathan si tolse di dosso il mantello, e lo diede a Davide; e così fece delle sue vesti, fino alla sua spada, al suo arco e alla sua cintura.

5 E Davide andava e riusciva bene dovunque Saul lo mandava: Saul lo mise a capo della gente di guerra, ed egli era gradito a tutto il popolo, anche ai servi di Saul.