Impossible Oath

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” History first records this question in Genesis 4:9 of the Holy Bible when God asks Cain, “where is thy brother Abel?” Since that time, Cain’s reply has been framed many times; “Am I my brother’s keeper?” In I Samuel 20:14-16 we find Prince Jonathan making a covenant with his brother-in-law, David, who has been anointed by Yahweh himself to be the next king of Israel in Jonathan’s place. “And you will not only while I live show me kindness of the LORD that I die not,” Jonathan petitions David, “but also, you will not cut off your kindness from my house forever; not even when the LORD has cut off the enemies of David, everyone, from off the face of the earth.” Will David be able to keep his promise, or will circumstance make it an impossible oath?