Made a covenant: literally “cut a covenant.” A covenant is an agreement that two persons or groups of persons make, in which both promise either to do or not to do certain things. See the comments on “treaty” in 11.1; see also 20.8 and 23.18. The agreement was initiated by Jonathan, but David was also committed to the relationship.

Because he loved him as his own soul: the first pronoun refers to Jonathan, and the second pronoun, him, refers to David.

The order of the elements in this verse may be changed for the sake of naturalness in the receptor language. Some may prefer to give the reason for the agreement before the statement about the agreement, rather than afterward as in the original. Contemporary English Version, for example, has “Jonathan liked David so much that they promised to always be loyal friends.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .