1 Samuel 18:3

WEB

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

KJV

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

Commentary

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant,.... A covenant of friendship; entered into a solemn agreement to keep up and mai ntain a cordial respect to each other, and to support each other's interest both in life and after death, whoever was the survivor; and in consequence of this David had a friend at court, when Saul fell out with him, and who pleaded his cause, and discovered his father's plots, and was the means of preserving David's life: because he loved him as his own soul; so that this covenant was not founded in mere words, but in sincere and cordial affection, and was lasting and inviolable.