1 Samuel 18:1

Saul Comes to Fear David

18:1 When David ¹  had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship. ²  Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life. ³ 

1 Samuel 20:1

Jonathan Seeks to Protect David

20:1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, ⁴  “What have I done? What is my offense? ⁵  How have I sinned before your father? For he is seeking my life!”

[18:1]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[18:1]  ² tn Heb “the soul of Jonathan was bound with the soul of David.”

[18:1]  ³ tn Heb “like his [own] soul.”

[18:1]  sn On the nature of Jonathan’s love for David, see J. A. Thompson, “The Significance of the Verb Love in the David-Jonathan Narratives in 1 Samuel,” VT 24 (1974): 334-38.

[20:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “and he came and said before Jonathan.”

[20:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “What is my guilt?”