²³ Swear to me by God here and now, that you will not break an agreement with me or with my children and descendants. As I have been loyal to you, so you will be loyal to me and to the country where you are a resident alien.”

¹⁴ If I continue to live, show me kindness^[a] from the Lord, but if I die, ¹⁵ don’t ever withdraw your kindness from my household—not even when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”^{(A) 16} Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David,^(B) saying, “May the Lord hold David’s enemies accountable.”^{[b](C) 17} Jonathan once again swore to David^[c] in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.^(D)

⁶ let seven of his male descendants be handed over to us so we may hang^[a] them in the presence of the Lord^(A) at Gibeah of Saul,^(B) the Lord’s chosen.”^(C)

The king answered, “I will hand them over.”

⁷ David spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul’s son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between David and Jonathan, Saul’s son.^{(D) 8} But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, who were the two sons whom Rizpah^(E) daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, and the five sons whom Merab^[b](F) daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite