David and Jonathan's friendship

After David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan, Saul’s son, became closely joined to David. The Bible says Jonathan loved David as his own soul. Saul kept David with him from that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.

Jonathan and David made a covenant with each other. Jonathan gave David his robe, other clothing, his sword, his bow and his girdle. Later, David learned that Saul wanted to kill him. David went to Jonathan and asked why Saul was so angry with him. David and Jonathan made a plan to find out how Saul would react. David would be absent from Saul’s table during the new moon feast. Jonathan would watch Saul’s reaction and then let David know whether it was safe to return.

Saul became very angry when David was missing. He also became angry with Jonathan for defending David. Saul even threw a javelin at Jonathan, and Jonathan then knew that Saul truly meant to kill David.

Jonathan went out to the field and used the agreed sign with arrows. After his young servant left, David came out from hiding. David and Jonathan wept together and said goodbye. Jonathan told David to go in peace, remembering the covenant they had made before the LORD.

First Samuel brings David and Jonathan together immediately after David had finished speaking with Saul. Jonathan was Saul’s son, but his friendship with David became stronger than questions of position or advantage. Scripture says Jonathan’s soul was knit with David’s, and that Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul kept David with him instead of allowing him to return to his father’s house. Jonathan and David made a covenant. Jonathan then gave David his robe, garments, sword, bow and girdle.

By chapter 20, the situation had become dangerous. Saul had repeatedly acted against David, and David came to Jonathan asking what he had done to deserve death. Jonathan first told David that Saul would surely tell him if such a plan existed. David answered that Saul knew about their friendship and might hide his plans from Jonathan.

The two men agreed on a test during the new moon feast. David would stay away from Saul’s table. Jonathan would see how Saul responded and would report the answer. They also renewed their covenant. Jonathan asked David to show him the kindness of the LORD while he lived, and not to cut off that kindness from Jonathan’s family.

On the first day of the feast Saul said nothing about David’s empty place. On the second day he asked Jonathan why David had not come. Jonathan gave the explanation he and David had agreed upon. Saul became furious. He declared that David must die and then threw a javelin at Jonathan when Jonathan defended him. Jonathan left the table in anger and grief, now certain that his father intended to kill David.

The next morning Jonathan went to the field with a young servant. He shot arrows and used the planned signal to warn David. After the servant had gone, David came from his hiding place and bowed before Jonathan. The two wept together, and David wept greatly. Jonathan told David to go in peace. Their friendship would now continue at a distance, but their covenant remained. Jonathan said that the LORD would be between them and between their descendants for ever.