1 Samuel 18:1-5
New English Translation
Saul Comes to Fear David
18 When David[a] had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship.[b] Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life.[c] 2 Saul retained David[d] on that day and did not allow him to return to his father’s house. 3 Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life.[e] 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with the rest of his gear including his sword, his bow, and even his belt.
5 On every mission on which Saul sent him, David achieved success. So Saul appointed him over the men of war. This pleased not only all the army, but also Saul’s servants.[f]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 18:1 tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Samuel 18:1 tn Heb “the soul of Jonathan was bound with the soul of David.”
- 1 Samuel 18:1 tn Heb “like his [own] soul.”sn On the nature of Jonathan’s love for David, see J. A. Thompson, “The Significance of the Verb Love in the David-Jonathan Narratives in 1 Samuel,” VT 24 (1974): 334-38.
- 1 Samuel 18:2 tn Heb “him”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- 1 Samuel 18:3 tn Heb “like his [own] soul.”
- 1 Samuel 18:5 tn Heb “it was good in the eyes of all the people and also in the eyes of the servants of Saul.”
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