David and Jonathan: a friendship that survived a king’s jealousy
By every rule of royal politics, Jonathan should have hated David. Jonathan was the king’s son and heir to the throne of Israel. David was the shepherd boy who had killed Goliath and won the people’s hearts, the man many believed God had chosen to be the next king. Instead, the Bible says, “the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1, KJV). Their friendship became one of the most moving stories in Scripture.
The covenant and Saul's jealousy
Jonathan made a covenant with David and gave him his robe, his sword, his bow and his girdle. These were signs of royal status, freely handed over. As David’s popularity grew, King Saul became jealous and tried to kill him. Jonathan was caught between loyalty to his father and love for his friend. Jonathan defended David before Saul, reminding his father of David’s loyalty. At first, Saul listened. Later, his anger returned.
The arrows, the farewell and Mephibosheth
In 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan agreed to find out Saul’s intentions and warn David by shooting arrows in a field. The signal told David he had to flee. When the friends parted, they wept together and renewed their covenant, promising loyalty to each other’s families. Jonathan died with Saul in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa.
David mourned, “I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me” (2 Samuel 1:26). Years later, as king, David sought out Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who was lame, and gave him a place at the royal table for Jonathan’s sake.
Lessons on friendship
The story teaches loyalty, selflessness and courage. Jonathan put his friend above his own ambition. Proverbs says, “there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Jonathan was such a friend. Who has been a Jonathan to you? To whom could you be one? Their covenant was made “before the LORD”, a reminder that faith can deepen friendship.
Jonathan once told David, “Thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee.” Jonathan gave David his robe and his sword, the symbols of a throne he might have had. David repaid him years later at a dinner table, by looking after his son.
