Found Family: David & Jonathan, part 1 [1 Samuel 18:1-6]

Citation:  1 Samuel 18: 1 – 5

 

The exchange of clothing between Jonathan and David is similar to the Greek custom of xenia, where gifts are exchanged to solidify a bond of guest-friendship.  

 

And it happened that when David had finished speaking with King Saul, Jonathan’s soul united with the soul of David, and Jonathan cherished him as if he were his own soul. On that day, King Saul took in David and did not allow him to return to his father’s household. Jonathan and David entered into a bond, for they both loved each other as if the other were his own soul. And Jonathan took off his own shirt he was wearing and gave it to David, and clothed him in his own clothes, even his own sword and bow and war belt. David went out wherever Saul sent him, and David performed his tasks wisely, and Saul gave him management over his warriors.  David was well respected in the eyes of the entire nation, especially in the servants of Saul’s own household.

Et factum est cum conplesset loqui ad Saul; anima Jonathan conligata est animae David et dilexit eum Jonathan quasi animam suam. Tulitque eum Saul in die illa, et non concessit ei ut reverteretur in domum patris sui. Inierunt autem Jonathan et David foedus; diligebat enim eum quasi animam suam. Nam expoliavit se Jonathan tunicam qua erat indutus, et dedit eam David, et reliqua vestimenta sua usque ad gladium et arcum suum et usque ad balteum. Egrediebatur quoque David ad omnia quaecumque misisset eum Saul, et prudenter se agebat posuitque eum Saul super viros belli, et acceptus erat in oculis universi populi, maximeque in conspectu famulorum Saul.