1 Samuel 20:12-17

Jonathan and David’s long-range covenant 20:12-17

Jonathan appealed to the Lord in an oath indicating the seriousness of the situation (1 Samuel 20:12-13). He prayed that God would be with David as he had been with Saul, namely, as Israel’s king (1 Samuel 20:13). These verses indicate clearly that Jonathan believed David would someday be king and subdue his enemies, including Saul (1 Samuel 20:13-15; cf. 1 Samuel 13:14). He had come to appreciate Yahweh’s loyal love (Heb. hesed, 1 Samuel 20:14-15), and now called on David to deal similarly with his descendants in the future. He secured a promise from David that when he reigned he would protect Jonathan’s family. "Lovingkindness" (Heb. hesed, 1 Samuel 20:14-15) is a covenant term of commitment (1 Samuel 20:16; 1 Samuel 20:42; cf. Deuteronomy 7:7-9). Previously David and Jonathan had made a covenant that Jonathan would yield the throne to David and support him (1 Samuel 18:3-4). Now David promised not to kill Jonathan’s descendants after David became king. It was common in the ancient Near East for kings who began a new dynasty to kill all the descendants of the former king to keep them from rising up and trying to reclaim the throne. Jonathan called on God to require an accounting for antagonism at the hands of David’s enemies (1 Samuel 20:16). This was the second vow that David had made after the one in which he pledged his love for Jonathan personally (1 Samuel 20:17; cf. 1 Samuel 18:3-4).