1. A plan to determine Saul's intent (1-9)

It was hard for Jonathan to believe that his own father was trying to kill his best friend David. But Jonathan and David trusted each other completely. They made a plan to see how Saul would react to David's absence. The way Saul reacted would reveal his true intent toward David.

2. Jonathan and David make a covenant (10-17).

Jonathan swore by the Lord to tell David if Saul had any malicious intent toward him. Jonathan did not covet his father's throne; he valued faithfulness to one person more highly. Jonathan understood God's purpose to make David king, and only asked David to show kindness to him and his family. David and Jonathan made a covenant, swearing an oath to deal faithfully with each other. David kept this oath even after Jonathan's death.