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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

1 Samuel 18:3

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant. Such covenants of brotherhood are frequent in the East. They are ratified by certain ceremonies, and in presence of witnesses, that the persons covenanting will be sworn brothers for life.

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See also 1 Samuel 18:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. JONATHAN AND DAVID--SAUL'S JEALOUSY CHAPTER 18 _ 1. Jonathan's love for David (1 Samuel 18:1)_ 2. The beginning of Saul's jealousy (1 Samuel 18:5) 3. David's marriage (1 Samuel 18:17)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    1 SAMUEL 17:1 TO 1 SAMUEL 18:5. DAVID AND GOLIATH (E, with additione by R). In this section two narratives seem to have been interwoven. For the sake of convenience, we may denote one set of passages...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    MADE. solemnised....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    1 Samuel 18:1-5. Jonathan's friendship for David 1 5. This section also is not found in the Septuagint (B)....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THEN JONATHAN AND DAVID MADE A COVENANT, &C.— That is, entered into a treaty or agreement of perpetual friendship. See 2 Samuel 1:26....

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Saul's Reception of David Into His Court, 1 Samuel 18:1-30. _David's Covenant With Jonathan._ 1 Samuel 18:1-4 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jona...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE LOVE OF JONATHAN FOR DAVID 1 Samuel 18:6 of this chapter seem to be connected with 1 Samuel 16:14 and not to be taken from the same document as 1 Samuel 17:1 to...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 18 V1 David finished talking with Saul. Jonathan, Saul’s son, became a very close friend with David. Jonathan loved David as much as he loved...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    MADE A COVENANT. — The son of the first Hebrew king recognised in David a kindred spirit. They were one in their God, in their faith, in their devotion to the Divine will. Jonathan recognised in the y...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּכְרֹ֧ת יְהֹונָתָ֛ן וְ דָוִ֖ד בְּרִ֑ית ב

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXV. _ SAUL'S JEALOUS-DAVID'S MARRIAGE._ 1 Samuel 18:1. THE conqueror of Goliath had been promised, as his reward, the eldest daughter of the king in marriage. The fulfillment of that promis...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A LOYAL FRIEND AND A JEALOUS ENEMY 1 Samuel 17:55; 1 Samuel 18:1 These verses make very good reading. They present the one ray of light in a story which, from this point on, becomes more and more som...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here, in the account of Jonathan and David, begins one of the most perfect stories of love and friendship in the world. The story is all the more beautiful because of its dark background. Love is in i...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _For he, Jonathan. (Haydock) --- Soul. "Friends have one soul." (Arist.[Aristotle?] Mor. ix. 8.)_...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Now that we have heard the prophet's judgment of king Saul, there follows next the choice of Jehovah. The chapter gives us in a very striking manner the manifest sentence of death on all the thoughts...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 18 AND 19. But when Christ makes Himself known, the remnant (which Jonathan represented) loves Him as his own soul, and this beloved one becomes the object of...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THEN JONATHAN AND DAVID MADE A COVENANT,.... A covenant of friendship; entered into a solemn agreement to keep up and maintain a cordial respect to each other, and to support each other's interest bot...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. Ver. 3. _Then Jonathan and David made a covenant._] Heb., Cut a covenant; for the covenanters first sware, and then cut...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Jonathan and David made a covenant_ Solemnly entered into an agreement of perpetual friendship. _Because he loved him_, &c. Or rather, as Le Clerc renders it, _so that each loved the other as his own...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Ionathan loueth Dauid. 5 Saul enuieth his praise, 10 Seeketh to kill him in his furie, 12 Feareth him for his good successe, 17 Offereth him his daughters for a snare. 22 Dauid perswaded to be...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, a formal sealing of their mutual love and friendship, BECAUSE HE LOVED HIM AS HIS OWN SOUL; they promised each other perpetual friendship....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Saul's Regard Changes to Hatred...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Jonathan, the son of Saul stands in refreshing contrast to his father. He was present when David returned to Saul. Doubtless David's victory had attracted Jonathan, but David's words decide him. When...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-5 The friendship of David and Jonathan was the effect of Divine grace, which produces in true believers one heart and one soul, and causes them to love each other. This union of souls is from parta...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    A COVENANT, i.e. an agreement of sincere and perpetual friendship between them....

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Samuel 18:3 Jonathan H3083 David H1732 made H3772 (H8799) covenant H1285 loved H160 soul H5315 made a covenant -...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JONATHAN'S COMRADELY LOVE FOR DAVID (1 SAMUEL 18:1). Verse 1 follows directly on after 1 Samuel 17, taking up where that chapter left off, so that what follows is to be seen in its light. And the firs...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Love covenant of Jonathan and David. Saul's jealousy and attempts on David's life. Saul's daughter given to David. CHARACTERS: God, David, Saul, Jonathan, Merab, Michal, Adriel. CONCLUSION:...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Samuel 18:4. _Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David._ This was the highest mark of favour he could show him, and it is still esteemed as such in the oriental...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David._ THE STORY OF A GREAT LOVE True Christianity consists in devotion to a Person, not in the acceptance of a series of doctrines or theories, nor e...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 1 SAMUEL 18:3 HE LOVED HIM AS HIS OWN SOUL. Jonathan would eventually give up any claim to the throne for David’s sake (1 Samuel 23:17) and wou

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES— 1 Samuel 18:1. “THE SOUL OF JONATHAN WAS KNIT,” literally, “chained itself.” (_Kiel)_. “In almost all languages friendship is considered as a union of souls bound togeth...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    PERSONAL RELATIONS OF SAUL AND DAVID (CHS. 18-27). FRIENDSHIP OF DAVID AND JONATHAN (CHS. 18-20). EXPOSITION JONATHAN LOVES DAVID ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now when it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan [Saul's son was just sort of] knit with the soul of David, Jonathan loved him as himself (1 Samuel 18:1...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 20:8; 1 Samuel 23:18; 2 Samuel 21:7;...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    Were David and Jonathan homosexuals? PROBLEM: This Scripture records the intense love David and Jonathan had for each other. Some see this as an indication that they were homosexual. They infer this f...

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