1 Samuel 20:17

1Sa 20:17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Ver. 17. And Jonathan caused David to swear again,] i.e., He required the like oath of him which he had made, that there might be a sure and steadfast league with him whom he so dearly loved. {a}

{a} Willet.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Sa_20:17

And Jonathan caused David to swear again because he loved him.

Love plighting troth

I. Now, first, great love desires to bind itself to the beloved one. And, first of all, remember that Jesus bound Himself to His people by covenant bonds.

2. Then, next, Jesus would have us bound to Him on our part. This kind of bond can never be all on one side, for true friendship leads to mutual love.

II. Great love desires renewed pledges from its object: Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

1. It was not out, of distrust, but by reason of a sort of sacred jealousy, that Jonathan caused David to swear again. Our Saviour is as jealous of us as His Father is; the immeasurable greatness of the love of Jesus Christ to us moves Him to feel an infinite jealousy of us.

2. This is the only return we can make for His love.

3. It is for our highest benefit that we should do this. Our love is often so feeble and cold that it needs to be stirred up again.

4. We are often tempted and allured by other loves, and are apt, to lend a listening ear to the charmers fascinating voice.

5. It is for our benefit that we should often renew our pledges of love to our Lord, because we cannot be happy unless we are wholly taken up with love to Him. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

He loved him as he loved his own soul.

True friendship

I. true friendship reports itself by practical sympathy in times of distress.

1. This friendship was truly unselfish.

2. This friendship was truly generous. David was a shepherd boy, Jonathan the kings son.

3. This friendship was truly practical.

4. This friendship was truly reciprocal. David loved Jonathan as fervently as Jonathan loved David..

II. True friendship reports itself by solemn compacts in times of distress. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

1. This covenant was formed in a reverent spirit. Jonathan appeals to God to witness his sincerity, to judge his motive, and to prosper his friend.

2. This covenant was submitted to a severe test.

3. This covenant was confirmed by an affectionate parting. (J. T. Woodhouse.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20:17 See 18:3; 23:16-18.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(17) And Jonathan caused David to swear again.—Throughout this touching interview it is the prince who appears as the suppliant for the outlaw’s ruture kind offices. Jonathan—looking forward with absolute certainty to the day when his persecuted friend would be on the throne, and he in his grave—dreaded for his own fatherless children the fate which too probably awaited them, it having been in all ages a common custom in the East, when the dynasty was violently changed, to put to death the children and near relations of the former king.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

17. caused David to swear again, because, &c.] Jonathan exacted another oath beside that implied in 1Sa_20:16, because the intensity of his love impelled him to bind David by the strongest possible obligation. The Sept. however reads: “And Jonathan swore yet again to David.”

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Jonathan caused David to swear again,.... Or Jonathan added to make David swears (u); having sworn himself to make a covenant of friendship with David and his family, he moved and insisted on it, that David should swear to keep covenant with him, and his family:

because he loved him; it was not so much for the good and safety of his offspring that he made this motion, and was so desirous of renewing and enlarging his covenant with David, as it was his strong love and affection for him; being on that account desirous that there might be the strictest friendship imaginable retained between the two families; or he made him swear by his love to him, as some understand it, which is not so likely; the former sense is better, for he himself sware by the Lord, Sa1 20:12,

for he loved him as his own soul; or "with the love of his soul" (w); with the most cordial affection, with a truly hearty and sincere love, see Sa1 18:1.

(u) "et addidit", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; so the Tigurine version. (w) "secundum dilectionem animae suae", Pagninus; "amore sui ipsius", Junius & Tremellius.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Heb. And Jonathan added or proceeded to make David swear, i.e. having himself sworn to David, or adjured David, in the foregoing verse, he here requires David’s oath to him, by way of restipulation or confirmation.

Because he loved him; because he had a true friendship for David, he desired that the covenant might be inviolably observed through all their generations.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Jonathan caused David to swear again. So strong was his conviction in David"s future kingdom, and his wish that there should be an unbroken bond of love between the two families, that he makes David solemnly repeat his promise. The Septuagint and Vulgate, by altering the vowels, read, "And Jonathan sware again to David." At first sight this interpretation seems most in accordance with the reason given for the renewal of the oath, namely, Jonathan"s own love; but the Masoretic text agrees better with what has gone before, and with his wish that their covenant under no change of circumstances should be broken.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Swear again - Hebrew. and Jonathan added or proceeded to make David swear; that is, having himself sworn to David or adjured David, in the foregoing verse, he here requires David's oath to him, by way of restipulation or confirmation. Loved him - Because he had a true friendship for David, he desired that the covenant might be inviolably observed through all their generations.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

he loved him as he loved his own soul

Here "his own soul" refers to himself. AT: "Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself" (See: Synecdoche)

You will be missed

This can be stated in active form. AT: "My father will miss you" (See: Active or Passive)

when the business was in hand

Here "business was in hand" is an idiom that refers to when everything happened. AT: "when everything happened" (See: Idiom)

the stone Ezel

"Ezel" was the name of the stone. AT: "the stone that people call Ezel" (See: How to Translate Names)

translationWords

Jonathan

vow

love

soul

new moon

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.