1Sa 18:1-5 | Clarke | STEP | Jonathan and David commence a lasting friendship; and David acts prudently with respect to Saul, . Saul becomes jealous of David, on account of the esteem in which he is held in Israel; and, in his fury endeavors to destroy him, . David is made captain over a thousand; and the people love and respect him, . Saul, in order to ensnare him, offers him his daughter in marriage, ; and requires a hundred foreskins of the Philistines for dowry; hoping that, in endeavoring to procure them, David might fall by the hands of the Philistines, . David agrees to the conditions, fulfils them, and has Michal to wife, . Verse 1 When he had made an end of speaking - These first five verses are omitted by the Septuagint. See the notes on the preceding chapter, 1 Samuel 17 (note). Jonathan loved him as his own soul - The most intimate friendship subsisted between them; and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. No love was lost between them; each was worthy of the other. They had a friendship which could not be affected with changes or chances, and which exemplified all that the ancients have said on the subject; Την φιλιαν ισοτητα ειναι, και μιαν ψυχην, τον φιλον ἑτερον αυτον; "Friendship produces an entire sameness; it is one soul in two bodies: a friend is another self."

1 Samuel 18:1-5

Introduction

Jonathan and David commence a lasting friendship; and David acts prudently with respect to Saul, 1Sam 18:1-5. Saul becomes jealous of David, on account of the esteem in which he is held in Israel; and, in his fury endeavors to destroy him, 1Sam 18:6-12. David is made captain over a thousand; and the people love and respect him, 1Sam 18:13-16. Saul, in order to ensnare him, offers him his daughter in marriage, 1Sam 18:17-24; and requires a hundred foreskins of the Philistines for dowry; hoping that, in endeavoring to procure them, David might fall by the hands of the Philistines, 1Sam 18:25. David agrees to the conditions, fulfils them, and has Michal to wife, 1Sam 18:26-30.

Verse 1

When he had made an end of speaking - These first five verses are omitted by the Septuagint. See the notes on the preceding chapter, 1 Samuel 17 (note).

Jonathan loved him as his own soul - The most intimate friendship subsisted between them; and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. No love was lost between them; each was worthy of the other. They had a friendship which could not be affected with changes or chances, and which exemplified all that the ancients have said on the subject; Την φιλιαν ισοτητα ειναι, και μιαν ψυχην, τον φιλον ἑτερον αυτον; "Friendship produces an entire sameness; it is one soul in two bodies: a friend is another self." Verse 4

Jonathan stripped himself - Presents of clothes or rich robes, in token of respect and friendship, are frequent in the East. And how frequently arms and clothing were presented by warriors to each other in token of friendship, may be seen in Homer and other ancient writers. Verse 5

Set him over the men of war - Made him generalissimo; or what we would call field marshal.