Saul’s Growing Fear of David

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan^(A) became one in spirit with David, and he loved^(B) him as himself.^{(C) 2} From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant^(D) with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe^(E) he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.^(F)

⁴ Jonathan spoke^(A) well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong^(B) to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. ⁵ He took his life^(C) in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory^(D) for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent^(E) man like David by killing him for no reason?”

⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

⁷ So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.^(F)

⁴⁰ Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.”

⁴¹ After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground.^(A) Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.

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