1 Samuel 23:18

1 Samuel 23:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.
• New International Version (NIV)The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. And David stayed in the woods, and Jonathan went to his own house.

Context of 1 Samuel 23:18

16Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God, 17saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.” Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence. Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home. 19Some Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Isn’t it true that David is hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? 20So now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. As for us, we will be glad to hand him over to the king.”

1 Samuel 23:18 word by word

וַיִּכְרְת֧וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֛ם בְּרִ֖ית לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב דָּוִד֙ בַּחֹ֔רְשָׁה וִיהוֹנָתָ֖ן הָלַ֥ךְ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they twoשְׁנַ֫יִםshenayim shettayim · twoH8147
• madeכָּרַתkârath · to cut: make(covenant)H3772
• a covenantבְּרִיתberîyth · covenantH1285
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• and Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• abodeיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• in the woodחֹ֫רֶשׁchôresh · HoreshH2793
• and Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• wentהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
• to his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 23:18

• 1 Samuel 18:3Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself.
• 1 Samuel 20:12“By the Lord, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If I find out that he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you?
• 2 Samuel 9:1David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show kindness to for Jonathan’s sake?”
• 2 Samuel 21:7David spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul’s son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between David and Jonathan, Saul’s son.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23:18

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-18Verses 14-18 David made no attempt against Saul; he kept God's way, waited God's time, and was content to secure himself in woods and wildernesses. Let it make us think the worse of this world, which often gives such bad treatment to its best men: let it make us long for that kingdom where goodness shall for ever be in glory, and holiness in honour. We find Jonathan comforting David. As a pious friend, he directed him to God, the Foundation of his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18a covenant: See 1 Samuel 18:3–4; 20:12–17. Jonathan went home: This was likely the last time David and Jonathan saw each other.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 23:18

• David
• Friendship
• Jonathan
• Malice
• Unselfishness

In the dictionaries

• David
• Jonathan
• Town
• Covenant, in the Old Testament
• Horesh
• Jonathan (2)
• Samuel, Books of
• Hachilah, the Hill

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings