KJV ORIGINAL
And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
And Saul listened to what Jonathan said, and Saul made a solemn promise, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Saul listened to his son Jonathan's plea and swore an oath that he would not kill David.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs after David's victory over Goliath when King Saul became jealous of David's popularity and success. Jonathan, Saul's son and David's best friend, had just spoken to his father defending David and reminding him of all the good David had done for Israel. Saul's oath was made in God's name, which was considered the most binding type of promise in ancient Israel.
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