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I Samuel 20:16

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So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 16

David, having several times narrowly escaped Saul's fury, begins to consider at last whether it may not be necessary for him to retire into the country and to take up arms in his own defence. But he will not do so daring a thing without consulting his faithful friend Jonathan; how he did this, and what passed between them, we have an account in this chapter, where we have as surprising instances of supernatural love as we had in the chapter before of unnatural hatred. I. David complains to Jonathan of his present distress, and engages him to be his friend (Sa1 20:1-8). II. Jonathan faithfully promises to get and give him intelligence how his father stood affected to him, and renews the covenant of friendship with him (Sa1 20:9-23). III. Jonathan, upon trial, finds, to his grief, that his father was implacably enraged against David (Sa1 20:24-34). IV. He gives David notice of this, according to the appointment between them (Sa1 20:35-42).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 16

יְהוֹנָתָן (Yᵉhôwnâthân, H3083) — Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

I Samuel 25:22rank 5

May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one of Nabal’s men survive until morning.”

I Samuel 18:3rank 3

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

I Samuel 31:2rank 2

The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.

Genesis 15:18rank 2

On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates—

II Samuel 21:8rank 2

But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.

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