1 Samuel 20:16-17

20:16 and called David’s enemies to account.” So Jonathan made a covenant ¹  with the house of David. ²  20:17 Jonathan once again took an oath with David, because he loved him. In fact Jonathan loved him as much as he did his own life. ³ 

1 Samuel 20:2

20:2 Jonathan ⁴  said to him, “By no means are you going to die! My father does nothing ⁵  large or small without making me aware of it. ⁶  Why would my father hide this matter from me? It just won’t happen!”

1 Samuel 25:24

25:24 Falling at his feet, she said, “My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant speak with my lord! Please listen to the words of your servant!

[20:16]  ¹ tn Heb “cut.” The object of the verb (“covenant”) must be supplied.

[20:16]  ² tn The word order is different in the Hebrew text, which reads “and Jonathan cut with the house of David, and the Lord will seek from the hand of the enemies of David.” The translation assumes that the main clauses of the verse have been accidentally transposed in the course of transmission. The first part of the verse (as it stands in MT) belongs with v. 17, while the second part of the verse actually continues v. 15.

[20:17]  ³ tn Heb “for [with] the love of his [own] life he loved him.”

[20:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jonathan) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:2]  ⁵ tc The translation follows the Qere, many medieval Hebrew mss, and the ancient versions in reading “he will not do,” rather than the Kethib of the MT (“do to him”).

[20:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “without uncovering my ear.”