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

⁷ But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul’s son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul.^(A)

⁴² Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since both of us have sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’ ” He got up and left, and Jonathan went into the city.^[a](A)

³ Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul.

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

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

¹² Jonathan said to David, “By the Lord, the God of Israel! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow or on the third day, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? ¹³ But if my father intends to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, so that you may go in safety. May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father.^{(A) 14} If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the Lord, but if I die,^{[a] 15} never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the Lord were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”^{(B) 16} Thus Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord seek out the enemies of David.” ¹⁷ Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own life.^(C)