1 Samuel 20:14-17

Amplified Bible

¹⁴If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness and faithfulness of the Lord, ^[a]so that I will not die? ¹⁵You shall never cut off your lovingkindness and faithfulness from my house, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” ¹⁶So Jonathan made a covenant with the ^[b]house of David. [^[c]He added,] “May ^[d]the Lord require it at the hands of David’s enemies. [that is, hold them accountable for any harm they inflict on David].” ¹⁷Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, for Jonathan loved him as himself.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1 Samuel 20:14 To secure his throne a new king would usually kill anyone who was a potential rival for the throne. Jonathan is asking assurance that he will not be assassinated after David becomes king.
1 Samuel 20:16 This covenant was binding not only on David and Jonathan, but also on their descendants.
1 Samuel 20:16 This may have been the additional vow mentioned in v 17.
1 Samuel 20:16 Jonathan was aligning himself with David against all of David’s enemies, including Saul.