18 The two of them made a covenant(A) before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

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The king spared Mephibosheth(A) son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath(B) before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

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42 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace,(A) for we have sworn friendship(B) with each other in the name of the Lord,(C) saying, ‘The Lord is witness(D) between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.(E)’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 20:42 In Hebrew texts this sentence (20:42b) is numbered 21:1.

And Jonathan made a covenant(A) with David because he loved him as himself.

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David and Mephibosheth

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”(A)

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12 Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound(A) out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? 13 But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely,(B) if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with(C) you as he has been with my father. 14 But show me unfailing kindness(D) like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, 15 and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family(E)—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

16 So Jonathan(F) made a covenant(G) with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.(H) 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath(I) out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

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