The two of them may be rendered explicitly as “Jonathan and David” if this seems more understandable in the receptor language.

Made a covenant: see the comments on “treaty” in 11.1. Compare also 18.3 for an earlier covenant between Jonathan and David, and see also 20.8. Good News Translation makes explicit that what the two men promised each other was “friendship.”

Before the LORD is translated by the adjective “sacred” in Good News Translation. Bible en français courant says “made a pact of friendship in the name of the Lord.”

Went home: or, literally, “went to his house.” In some languages the more literal rendering will prove to be more natural.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .