He said to him, “Do not be afraid: the hand of my father Shaul will never touch you. You are going to be king over Yisrael and I shall be second to you; and even my father Shaul knows this is so.”I Samuel 23:17 (The Israel Bible™)וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אַל־תִּירָא כִּי לֹא תִמְצָאֲךָ יַד שָׁאוּל אָבִי וְאַתָּה תִּמְלֹךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָנֹכִי אֶהְיֶה־לְּךָ לְמִשְׁנֶה וְגַם־שָׁאוּל אָבִי יֹדֵעַ כֵּןHear the verse in Hebrewva-YO-mer ay-LAV al tee-RA KEE LO tim-tza-a-KHA yad sha-UL a-VEE v’-a-TAH tim-LOKH al yis-ra-AYL v’-a-no-KHEE eh-yeh l’-KHA l’-mish-NEH v’-GAM sha-UL a-VEE yo-DAY-a KAYN
Do not be Afraid: the Hand of my Father Shaul Will Never Touch you
This verse again demonstrates Yehonatan’s selflessness and love for David. Despite his awareness that the consequence of David becoming king is that he will not succeed his father on the throne, Yehonatan recognizes that Hashem has designated his beloved friend David as the next king of Israel. Displaying great admiration for his friend and sacrifice for the sake of the nation as well as for David, Yehonatan expresses his desire to serve under David. Yehonatan is a powerful and inspiring model, not only of an elevated level of friendship, but also of an individual willing to make any sacrifice necessary to advance the will of God and the wellbeing of Israel.
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