111 Relationship Between Saul and David are trying to take advantage of their first - degree blood relation for convincing the other side . K . Bodner ( 2008 : 203 ) puts it somewhat differently, “The contrasting attitudes of Saul and Jonathan in the opening moments of this chapter illustrates the ‘house divided’…” cf . also D . Jobling 1978 : 13 ) . Jonathan, exploiting his position as the ( king’s son , does his best to save David and to prevent his father from taking the life of his innocent friend and the hero of Israel . I must disagree, however, with the different assessment that the implied author subtly criticizes Jonathan who defends David, and by doing so, betrays the interests of Saul’s kingship as well as his own future as Saul’s successor ( pace O . Keren 2008 : 134 – 135 ) . Jonathan’s defense contains several points : appealing to his father’s emotions, and the use of legal nomenclature . Jonathan says to his father that David did nothing wrong to the king . On the contr...
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