³ And Jonathan made a covenant^(A) with David because he loved him as himself.

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]

⁸ As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant^(A) with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill^(B) me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”

⁹ “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?”

¹⁰ David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”

¹¹ “Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together.

¹² Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound^(C) 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,^(D) if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with^(E) you as he has been with my father. ¹⁴ But show me unfailing kindness^(F) 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^(G)—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”

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

⁷ 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.

David and Mephibosheth

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

² Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba.^(B) They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

“At your service,” he replied.

³ The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”

Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan;^(C) he is lame^(D) in both feet.”

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