Indodana kaSawule endala, uJonathani, yayiyisosha elinesibindi. UDavide wathi uJonathani wayeshesha ngaphezu kokhozi futhi enamandla ngaphezu kwebhubesi. Ngolunye usuku, uJonathani wabona amasosha amaFilisti angu-20 egqumeni. Wathi esikhonzini esiphatha izikhali zakhe: ‘Sizowahlasela kuphela uma uJehova esinika uphawu. Uma amaFilisti esitshela ukuthi sinyuke, siyobe sesazi ukuthi singawahlasela.’ AmaFilisti amemeza: ‘Khuphukani silwe!’ Ngakho la madoda amabili anyuka igquma futhi alwa namaFilisti awanqoba.

Ngenxa yokuthi wayeyindodana kaSawule endala, uJonathani wayezoba inkosi elandelayo. Nokho, uJonathani wayazi ukuthi uJehova ukhethe uDavide ukuba abe inkosi elandelayo; noma kunjalo wayengenawo umona. UJonathani noDavide baba abangani abakhulu. Bathembisana ukuvikelana nokusekelana. UJonathani wapha uDavide ijazi, inkemba, umcibisholo nebhande lakhe ukuze abonise ukuthi babengabangani ngempela.

 Ngesikhathi uDavide ebalekela uSawule, uJonathani waya kuye, wathi: ‘Yima uqine, ube nesibindi. UJehova ukukhethile ukuba ube yinkosi. Ngisho nobaba uyakwazi lokho.’ Ungathanda ukuba nomngani omuhle onjengoJonathani?

UJonathani wabeka ukuphila kwakhe engozini kaningi ukuze asize umngani wakhe. Wayazi ukuthi iNkosi uSawule ifuna ukubulala uDavide, ngakho wathi kuyise: ‘Uzobe wenza isono uma ubulala uDavide, akenzanga lutho olubi.’ USawule wamthukuthelela uJonathani. Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, uSawule noJonathani bafa empini ndawonye.

Ngemva kokuba uJonathani eseshonile, uDavide wacinga indodana kaJonathani uMefibhosheti. Lapho uDavide emthola, watshela uMefibhosheti ukuthi: ‘Ngenxa yokuthi ubaba wakho wayengumngani omuhle kimi, ngizokunakekela ukuphila kwakho konke. Uzohlala esigodlweni sami udle etafuleni lami.’ UDavide akazange amkhohlwe umngani wakhe uJonathani.