1 Samuel 18:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

NIV: Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

NASB: Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his military gear, including his sword, his bow, and his belt.

CSB: Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

NLT: Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.

KJV: And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

NKJV: And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.

Jonathan is struck with powerful admiration, devotion, and love for David. Nothing about this should be seen as unhealthy or impure in any way. David seems to be everything Jonathan himself aspires to be: bold, brave, and independent. Most importantly, David is completely confident in God's ability to save His people no matter the odds. David would have seen many of those traits in Jonathan, as well. Their instant connection makes sense.

The previous verse says Jonathan made a covenant with David (1 Samuel 18:3). The sense seems to be that Jonathan is pledging to protect David and serve him, and to fight alongside him. To symbolize this commitment, Jonathan gives David his own royal robe, along with his armor, sword, bow, and belt.

We're not sure how much of God's plan Jonathan understands at this point. God has declared that David, not Jonathan, will succeed Saul as king (1 Samuel 15:23). Samuel has already anointed David (1 Samuel 16:1–13). Saul knows God has promised to replace him, but we don't know if Saul has yet realized that David is his replacement. Jonathan will never take the throne. Jonathan may not know any of these details, yet.

However, some biblical details hint that he is aware. Later, when Saul's threats become too much and the friends must part from each other, Jonathan says, "May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father" (1 Samuel 20:13). Jonathan also begs David to save the lives of himself and his family, perhaps referring to the practice of the king of a new dynasty killing the previous king's heirs (1 Samuel 20:14–15).

Regardless, Jonathan, the prince of Israel, humbles himself to honor and serve a shepherd boy from Bethlehem. His complete lack of jealousy or competition with David seems even more remarkable when compared to his father's increasing malice towards David's growing popularity.

First Samuel 18:1–5 records how David becomes a permanent member of the royal court. He had spent time there serving Saul (1 Samuel 17:15), but after he kills Goliath, the king brings him in permanently. Saul's son Jonathan, the heir-apparent, immediately forms a lifelong bond of friendship. Despite the bizarre views of some modern commentators, this bond is not sexual. It's a beautiful example of male friendship. Meanwhile, the people's adoration of David makes the king furious to the point of murder.

Saul's son Jonathan becomes David's best friend. David succeeds in every military mission Saul sends him on. The people praise David as being even mightier than Saul. The king is furious and terrified that David will take his throne. After Saul's direct attempts to kill David fail, the king sends David to battle the Philistines using marriage to his daughter as bait. David not only survives, but he continues to prove himself to be a mightier warrior and leader than Saul. Saul knows the Lord is with David and not with him and cements himself as David's permanent enemy.

First Samuel 18 begins the story of how the changed work of the Holy Spirit on both Saul and David (1 Samuel 16:13–14) leads to the king's destruction and David's rise. David faithfully serves both Saul (1 Samuel 16:14–23) and Saul's kingdom (1 Samuel 17—18). But David wins the hearts of Saul's people and his children. Saul can't handle the competition (1 Samuel 19—20). Finally, David flees the royal court and raises his own army. He spends years fighting Israel's enemies from afar, patiently waiting until Saul dies in battle and the shepherd boy can take his rightful crown (1 Samuel 21—31).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.