1Sa 18:1-5 | KD | STEP | The bond of friendship which Jonathan formed with David was so evidently the main point, that in the writer commences with the love of Jonathan to David, and then after that proceeds in to observe that Saul took David to himself from that day forward; whereas it is very evident that Saul told David, either at the time of his conversation with him or immediately afterwards, that he was henceforth to remain with him, i.e., in his service. “ The soul of Jonathan bound itself ( lit . chained itself; cf. ) to David’s soul, and Jonathan loved him as his soul .” The Chethibh ויּאהבו with the suffix ו attached to the imperfect is very rare, and hence the Keri ויּאהבהוּ (vid., Ewald , §249, b ., and Olshausen, Gramm . p. 469). לשׁוּב, to return to his house, viz., to engage in his former occupation as shepherd.

‏ 1 Samuel 18:1-5

The bond of friendship which Jonathan formed with David was so evidently the main point, that in 1Sa 18:1 the writer commences with the love of Jonathan to David, and then after that proceeds in 1Sa 18:2 to observe that Saul took David to himself from that day forward; whereas it is very evident that Saul told David, either at the time of his conversation with him or immediately afterwards, that he was henceforth to remain with him, i.e., in his service. “The soul of Jonathan bound itself (lit. chained itself; cf. Gen 44:30) to David’s soul, and Jonathan loved him as his soul.” The Chethibh ויּאהבו with the suffix ו attached to the imperfect is very rare, and hence the Keri ויּאהבהוּ (vid., Ewald, §249, b., and Olshausen, Gramm. p. 469). לשׁוּב, to return to his house, viz., to engage in his former occupation as shepherd. 1Sa 18:3

Jonathan made a covenant (i.e., a covenant of friendship) and (i.e., with) David, because he loved him as his soul. 1Sa 18:4

As a sign and pledge of his friendship, Jonathan gave David his clothes and his armour. Meil, the upper coat or cloak. Maddim is probably the armour coat (vid., 1Sa 17:39). This is implied in the word ועד, which is repeated three times, and by which the different arms were attached more closely to מדּיו. For the act itself, compare the exchange of armour made by Glaucus and Diomedes (Hom. Il. vi. 230). This seems to have been a common custom in very ancient times, as we meet with it also among the early Celts (see Macpherson’s Ossian). 1Sa 18:5

And David went out, sc., to battle; whithersoever Saul sent him, he acted wisely and prosperously (ישׂכּיל, as in Jos 1:8 : see at Deu 29:8). Saul placed him above the men of war in consequence, made him one of their commanders; and he pleased all the people, and the servants of Saul also, i.e., the courtiers of the king, who are envious as a general rule.