¹⁷ Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own life.^(A)

⁴¹ As soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap^[a] and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He bowed three times, and they kissed each other and wept with each other; David wept the more.^[b]

Jonathan’s Covenant with David

18 When David^[a] had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.^{(A) 2} Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.^{(B) 3} Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. ⁴ Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David and his armor and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

¹⁶ Saul’s son Jonathan set out and came to David at Horesh; there he strengthened his hand through the Lord.^[a](A)

² Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you; therefore be on guard tomorrow morning; stay in a secret place and hide yourself.