Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
1 Samuel 18:1-4
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 first important result of David's triumph was that Jonathan, Saul's firstborn son, took a great liking to David, so much so that they became comrades-in-arms..
It was in fact one of the ironies of life for Saul, and an evidence of YHWH's love for David, that the more Saul hated David, the more some of Saul's close family loved him and tried to protect him. For in this chapter we learn that first Jonathan and then Michal, Saul's daughter, acted on David's behalf to save him from Saul. Unfortunately this serves to bring out the insaneness of Saul's jealousy and hatred for David, for it is portrayed as in direct contrast with their love for him. But that would come a little later and this first passage brings out Jonathan's love for David, a love which resulted in a covenant between them
Analysis.
a And it came about when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David (1 Samuel 18:1 a).
b And Jonathan loved him as his own soul (1 Samuel 18:1 b).
c And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house (1 Samuel 18:2).
b Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul (1 Samuel 18:3).
a And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his (military) clothing, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle (1 Samuel 18:4).
Note that in ‘a' Jonathan's inner self is knit with that of David, and in the parallel this is made apparent by Jonathan giving to David all his own military dress including his armour. In ‘b' Jonathan loved David ‘as his own soul', and in the parallel he made a covenant with him because he loved him with his own soul. Centrally in ‘c' Saul took David into his court as a permanent member of it.
‘ And it came about when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.'
Impressed by David's bravery and audacity, which blended well with his own, Jonathan, Saul's firstborn son, was attracted to him from the start. And the result was that a great love and friendship developed between them, the friendship of fellow comrades-in-arms, a kind of friendship which is as strong as any friendship known to man. From then on these two would be closer than brothers. A similar phrase is used of Jacob's special love for his youngest son Benjamin in Genesis 44:30. It was a pure, true and spiritual love.
‘ And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.'
Saul was also impressed, at least for the time being, and took him on that day as a permanent member of his staff and would no longer allow him to return to his father's house. This did not, of course, mean that he was never allowed to go and see his family. It simply indicated permanent employment in the king's service which was different from his previous on and off employment. He was now an established member of the court.
‘ Then Jonathan and David made (cut) a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.'
The comradeship between Jonathan and David was such that they made a binding pact of friendship, because of the warmth of the undying friendship that lay between them. This was sealed in the form of a covenant, and witnessed in a way that demonstrated Jonathan's regard for David. (‘Cut a covenant' does not necessarily mean that blood was shed. The verb had become usable of the making of any covenant whether sealed with blood or not).
‘ And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him, and gave it to David, and his (military) clothing, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.'
The friendship and the covenant were then sealed by Jonathan giving to David his own armour and weapons, a token of his great esteem and affection, and an indication that he now saw him as his ‘other self' (loved him as his own soul). It was a singular honour for David to receive such gifts from the king's son. It bound the two together as true comrades, and was a reminder to all of their close bond. This comradeship was in distinct contrast with Saul's forthcoming attitude towards David and emphasises the personal nature of the latter. It is being made clear that even Saul's close family found no fault with David. Any enmity was therefore due solely to Saul's own personal suspicions, and of course the paranoia and delusion that went with his illness.
Note on the use of clothes as a symbolic gesture in 1 Samuel.
A man's outer garments were generally seen as indicating both his position and status and also something of himself. Thus at Ugarit when an heir apparent to the throne was given the choice of remaining with his father and thus continuing as crown prince, or going with his divorced mother and losing that privilege, he was to demonstrate his decision by either retaining his clothes denoting his status, or by leaving them on the throne when he departed. There are a number of references in 1 Samuel to a similar use of clothes as a symbolic gesture.
1). Saul clothed David in his own armour in order to demonstrate that he went out to meet Goliath as Saul's champion (1 Samuel 17:38). This act was intended to confirm all that David was Saul's representative.
2). Here Jonathan stripped himself of his war apparel and gave it to David. This was seemingly his way of indicating that they were bound together in a covenant (1 Samuel 18:3). From then on they would look out for each other as though they were closer than twins, and from then on they would share each other's honour and each other's problems.
3). When Saul later approaches Samuel with a view to arresting David, Saul, unable to help himself, strips himself of his outer clothing and prophesies before Samuel and lays down, ‘undressed' as he is, all day and all night (1 Samuel 19:22). This would seem to be suggesting that in spite of himself he had no choice but to divest himself of his authority before YHWH' prophet and His Spirit. YHWH was seen to be still his Overlord.