And as long as I live
This phrase reflects Jonathan's awareness of the precariousness of his situation due to his father Saul's animosity towards David. It underscores the temporal nature of human life and the need for divine protection and favor. In the broader biblical narrative, life is often depicted as fleeting, as seen in James 4:14, which compares life to a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

treat me with the LORD’s loving devotion
Jonathan appeals to the covenantal love, or "chesed," of the LORD, which is a central theme in the Old Testament. This loving devotion is not merely an emotional affection but a steadfast, loyal love that is rooted in covenantal faithfulness. It is the same kind of love that God shows to His people Israel, as seen in Exodus 34:6-7. Jonathan's request for this kind of treatment from David highlights the deep bond and covenant they share, which mirrors the divine covenant between God and His people.

that I may not die
Jonathan's plea is both literal and prophetic. Literally, he seeks protection from the potential wrath of his father, Saul. Prophetically, it foreshadows the ultimate deliverance from death that is found in Jesus Christ, who is the fulfillment of God's covenant promises. In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of eternal life and deliverance from death for those who believe in Him (John 11:25-26). Jonathan's request can be seen as a type of the salvation and eternal life offered through Christ.

1. Jonathan
The son of King Saul and a close friend of David. He is the speaker in this verse, expressing his desire for David's continued loyalty and kindness.

2. David
The future king of Israel, anointed by Samuel, and a man after God's own heart. He is the recipient of Jonathan's request for loving devotion.

3. Saul
The first king of Israel and Jonathan's father, who becomes increasingly hostile towards David, seeing him as a threat to his throne.

4. Covenant
The solemn agreement between Jonathan and David, which is central to this chapter. It is a commitment of mutual loyalty and protection.

5. Loving Devotion (Hebrew: "chesed")
A key theme in this verse, referring to steadfast love, kindness, and loyalty, often used to describe God's covenantal love.The Importance of Covenant Loyalty
Just as Jonathan and David made a covenant, we are called to be faithful in our commitments to others, reflecting God's faithfulness to us.

Reflecting God's Loving Devotion
"Chesed" is a model for our relationships. We should strive to show steadfast love and kindness, mirroring the divine love we receive.

Trusting in God's Protection
Jonathan's request for loving devotion is rooted in trust. We, too, can trust in God's protection and provision, even in uncertain times.

Friendship and Sacrifice
Jonathan's willingness to protect David, even at personal risk, teaches us about the sacrificial nature of true friendship.

Legacy of Faithfulness
Our actions, like David's later kindness to Mephibosheth, can leave a lasting legacy of faithfulness and love for future generations.(14) And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not.--The Hebrew of this and the next verse is again very confused, abrupt, and ungrammatical, but this is evidently to be attributed to the violent emotion of the speaker. We have, doubtless (as above suggested). David's own report of what took place, and the words of his dead friend had, no doubt, impressed themselves with a sad accuracy on his heart.

The Syriac and Arabic renderings have been followed by Maurer, Ewald, Keil, Lange, and others, who change v'lo ("and not") in the first two clauses of 1Samuel 20:14, into the interjection v'lu (and "O that," or "would that"). They render them, "And mayest thou, if I still live, show to me the favour of the Lord, and if I die, not withdraw thy favour from my house for ever, not even when Jehovah shall cut off the enemies of David, every one from the face of the earth."

The last words, "when Jehovah shall cut off," tells us with striking clearness how thoroughly convinced was Jonathan that in the end David's cause, as the cause of their God, would surely triumph. Mournfully he looked on to his father's downfall and his own (Jonathan's) premature death; and in full view of this he bespoke the interest of his friend--though his friend would probably in a few hours become an exile and outlaw--on behalf of his own (Jonathan's) children, who would, he foresaw, before many years had expired, be landless, homeless orphans.

Verses 14, 15. - The construction of this passage is very difficult if we retain the three negatives of the Masoretic text; but most commentators, following the reading of the Syriac as regards at least one of them, consider that the Masorites have been mistaken in the vowels which they have attached to the consonants (see on 1 Samuel 1:7). Read with other vowels, two of these negatives become interjections of desire - O that; and the whole may be translated, "And O that, while I still live, yea, O that thou wouldst show me the kindness of Jehovah, - i.e. great unfailing kindness, such as was that of Jehovah to Israel, - that I die not, nor shalt thou cut off thy kindness from my house forever." It was the sanguinary custom in the East on a change of dynasty to put all the seed royal to death (1 Kings 15:29; 1 Kings 16:11, etc., and comp. 2 Samuel 19:28). As then Jonathan foresaw that it was Jehovah's will to transfer the kingdom to David, he binds him by the memory of his own true love to him to show mercy to his race.

Parallel Commentaries ...


And
וְלֹ֖א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

as long as
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I live,
חָ֑י (ḥāy)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

treat
תַעֲשֶׂ֧ה (ṯa·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

me
עִמָּדִ֛י (‘im·mā·ḏî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5978: Against, by, from, me, mine, of, that I take, unto,

with the LORD’s
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

loving devotion
חֶ֥סֶד (ḥe·seḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

that I may not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

die,
אָמֽוּת׃ (’ā·mūṯ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill


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OT History: 1 Samuel 20:14 You shall not only while yet (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)