1 Samuel 18:2-4

Saul took him that day. Bent solely on war, Saul gladly took so promising, a young soldier as David to be one of his bodyguard ( 1 Samuel 14:52 ), and henceforward he was constantly with him. Thus in two ways, first as a musician, and now as a soldier, David was forced into those intimate relations with Saul, which ended so tragically. For a while, however, those happier results ensued summed up in 1 Samuel 16:21 . Jonathan and David made a covenant. We are not to suppose that this happened immediately. David continued on friendly terms with Saul for a considerable period, during which he went on many expeditions, and grew in military renown (see 1 Samuel 16:5 ). And thus the love which began with admiration of David's prowess grew deeper and more confirmed by constant intercourse, till this solemn bond of mutual friendship was entered into by the two youthful heroes, by which they bound themselves under all circumstances to be true and faithful to one another. How nobly Jonathan kept the bond the history proceeds immediately to tell us; nor was David subsequently unmindful of it ( 2 Samuel 9:1-13 :l, 7). Jonathan stripped himself of the robe, etc. In confirmation of the bond Jonathan gave David first his robe, the meil, which, as we have seen on 1 Samuel 2:19 , was the ordinary dress of the wealthier classes; and next his garments, his military dress (see on 1 Samuel 17:38 , 1 Samuel 17:39 ), worn over the meil , and which here seems to include his accoutrements,—the bow, sword, and girdle,—though elsewhere distinguished from them ( 2 Samuel 20:8 ). In thus clothing David in his own princely equipments Jonathan was showing his friend the greatest personal honour ( Esther 6:8 ), and such a gift is still highly esteemed in the East.