1 Samuel 18:1. The soul of Jonathan was knit— We shall have occasion in the close of this history to speak particularly concerning this amiable and virtuous friendship. It is plain from the 2nd verse, that David had gone back to his father's house after his first introduction to Saul; which confirms the remarks made respecting this history in the former chapter. read more
1. the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David—They were nearly of an age. The prince had taken little interest in David as a minstrel; but his heroism and modest, manly bearing, his piety and high endowments, kindled the flame not of admiration only, but of affection, in the congenial mind of Jonathan. read more
Jonathan’s love for David 18:1-5We have already seen that Jonathan was a man of faith and courage (1 Samuel 14:1-15). Jonathan found a soul brother in David, a man who committed himself to trusting and obeying God as he did. This common purpose on the deepest level of life is what accounts for the love Jonathan and David shared for one another (1 Samuel 18:1). Jonathan loved David as he loved himself (1 Samuel 18:1; 1 Samuel 18:3; cf. Leviticus 19:18). He loved David, as he should have, since... read more
3. The results of God’s selection of David 18:1-19:17Earlier the writer narrated Saul’s anointing, military success, and the popular reaction to him (chs. 10-11). Now he followed the same pattern by recording David’s anointing, military success, and the popular reaction to him (1 Samuel 16:1 to 1 Samuel 19:17). The popular reaction to Saul was fairly simple: most of the people supported him, though a few opposed him (1 Samuel 11:12-15). The popular reaction to David was much more complex and... read more
The Love of Jonathan for David1 Samuel 18:6-30 of this chapter seem to be connected with 1 Samuel 16:14-23 and not to be taken from the same document as 1 Samuel 17:1 to 1 Samuel 18:5. LXX omits a large part of this section and only retains 1 Samuel 18:6-8; 1 Samuel 12; 1 Samuel 13-16, 20-21; 1 Samuel 22-26; 1 Samuel 27-29 a. In this case the LXX text gives an easy and straight forward account, and many suppose that it is the original. But the character of the LXX omissions in 1 Samuel 17... read more
(1) The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David.—We have in this and the following chapters somewhat of a detailed account of David at the Court of Saul. In 1 Samuel 16:0 this Court life of the future king has been already touched upon, notably in 1 Samuel 18:21-23, where the affection of Saul for David was mentioned, where also the appointing of the young shepherd to a post about the king’s person is recorded. But this mention in 1 Samuel 16:0 considerably anticipated the course of... read more
CHAPTER XXV.SAUL’S JEALOUS-DAVID’S MARRIAGE.1 Samuel 18:1-30.THE conqueror of Goliath had been promised, as his reward, the eldest daughter of the king in marriage. The fulfillment of that promise, if not utterly neglected, was at least delayed; but if David lost the hand of the king’s daughter, he gained, what could not have been promised - the heart of the king’s son. It was little wonder that ’’the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul."... read more
3. Jonathan and David--Saul’s jealousy CHAPTER 18 1. Jonathan’s love for David (1 Samuel 18:1-4 ) 2. The beginning of Saul’s jealousy (1 Samuel 18:5-16 ) 3. David’s marriage (1 Samuel 18:17-30 ) A beautiful scene opens this chapter. Jonathan, the man of faith, loves David. He was about 40 years old and David about 17. Jonathan made a covenant with David and loved him as his own soul. He showed also his great devotion by giving to David, his robe, his garments, his sword, his bow and his... read more
18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the {a} soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.(a) His affection was fully bent toward him. read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Samuel 18:1
DAVID BECOMES A MEMBER OF SAUL'S FAMILYJust as the efforts of Pharaoh to destroy Israel led directly to the placement of Moses within the inner circle of the family of Pharaoh, bouncing Moses, as it were, out of the Nile river into the lap of the princess, in a similar manner, Saul's repeated efforts to get rid of his rival David resulted in David's marriage to Saul's daughter! Certainly the hand of God is visible in every line of this remarkable chapter.THE LOVING FRIENDSHIP OF JONATHAN AND... read more