written by a man who knew the place--who had probably been in
the great battle of Beth-aven, which followed, and had perhaps
ascended the rock where Jonathan had done his valiant deed, and had
seen the dead bodies lying as they had fallen before him and his
armour-bearer.

Then follows the story of David's killing Goliath, and coming back
to Saul with the giant's head in his hand, and answering modestly to
him, 'I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.'

'And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul,
that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and
Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

'Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as
his own soul.

'And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and
gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his
bow, and to his girdle.'

He loved him as his own soul. And why? Because his soul was like
the soul of David; because he was modest, he loved David's modesty;
because he was brave, he loved David's courage; because he was
virtuous, he loved David's virtue. He saw that David was all that
he was himself, and more; and therefore he loved him as his own
soul. And therefore I said, that it is only noble and great hearts
who can have great friendships; who admire and delight in other
men's goodness; who, when they see a great and godlike man,
conceive, like Jonathan, such an affection for him that they forget
themselves, and think only of him, till they will do anything for
him, sacrifice anything for him, as Jonathan did for David.

For remember, that Jonathan had cause to hate and envy David rather
than love him; and that he would have hated him if there had been
any touch of meanness or selfishness in his heart. Gradually he
learnt, as all Israel learnt, that Samuel had anointed David to be
king, and that he, Jonathan, was in danger of not succeeding after
Saul's death. David stood between him and the kingdom. And yet he
did not envy David--did not join his father for a moment in plotting
his ruin. He would oppose his father, secretly indeed, and
respectfully; but still, he would be true to David, though he had to
bear insults and threats of death.

And mark here one element in Jonathan's great friendship. Jonathan
is a pious man, as well as a righteous one. He believes the Lord's
messages that he has chosen David to be king, and he submits; seeing
that it is just an