1 Samuel 18:1

1 Und da er hatte ausgeredet mit Saul, verband sich das Herz Jonathans mit dem Herzen Davids, und Jonathan gewann ihn lieb wie sein eigen Herz.

1 Samuel 18:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 18:1

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto
Saul
In answer to his questions about his descent and family, and doubtless more things were talked of than are recorded:

that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David:
he won his heart, made a conquest of his affections, these went out towards him, and cleaved unto him; such were the comeliness of his person, his graceful mien and deportment, his freedom and fluency of expression, his courage and undauntedness, joined with prudence, modesty, and integrity, that they strongly attached him to him:

and Jonathan loved him as his own soul;
not only according to the excellency of David's soul, and the greatness of it, as that deserved respect and love, as Abarbinel suggests, but he loved him as he loved himself. There was a similarity in their persons, in their age, in the dispositions of their minds, in their wisdom, courage, modesty, faithfulness, and openness of soul, that attracted them to each other, that they became as another self; as one soul, as Aristotle speaks ^F18 of true friends: instances of very cordial friendship are given by Plutarch ^F19, as in Theseus and Pirithous, Achilles and Patroclus, Orestes and Pylades, Pythias and Damon, Epaminondas and Pelopidas; but none equal to this.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Ethic. l. 9. c. 4, 9. So Porphyr. de Vita Pythagor.
F19 Apud Patrick in loc.

1 Samuel 18:1 In-Context

1 Und da er hatte ausgeredet mit Saul, verband sich das Herz Jonathans mit dem Herzen Davids, und Jonathan gewann ihn lieb wie sein eigen Herz.

2 Und Saul nahm ihn des Tages und ließ ihn nicht wieder zu seines Vaters Haus kommen.

3 Und Jonathan und David machten einen Bund miteinander; denn er hatte ihn lieb wie sein eigen Herz.

4 Und Jonathan zog aus seinen Rock, den er anhatte, und gab ihn David, dazu seinen Mantel, sein Schwert, seinen Bogen und seinen Gürtel. {~} {~}

5 Und David zog aus, wohin ihn Saul sandte, und hielt sich klüglich. Und Saul setzte ihn über Kriegsleute; und er gefiel wohl allem Volk, auch den Knechten Sauls. {~} {~} {~}