JONATHAN jon’ ə thən (יְהﯴנָתָ֜ן, Yahweh has given; ̓Ιωνάθης, ̓Ιωνάθαν). A common name among the Israelites in all periods.

1. Son of Saul, the first king of Israel. He was the first-born son and heir apparent to the throne of Israel (for an alternate view, cf. J. Morgenstern, “David and Jonathan,” JBL, LXXVIII [1959], 322-325).

1. Military success at Michmash. It may be assumed that Jonathan already had proved himself in his father’s service, perhaps against the Ammonites at Jabesh-gilead, for he is first mentioned as the commander of one-third of the forces of Israel. His contingent of 1,000 troops was at Gibeah of Benjamin (1 Sam 13:2). Saul commanded a larger detachment of 2,000 troops in Michmash (13:5). Jonathan had initiated action by striking the Philistines at Geba (Gibeath-elohim) (13:3). He either killed the “prefect,” the officer of the Philistines, or destroyed a Philistine “garrison” by means of a surprise attack. Either event would be sufficient to bring down wrath from the Philistines. This act in the eyes of the Philistines signaled a revolt by the Israelites, and they mustered their forces to put down the uprising (13:5). Saul called for the mobilization of the militia (13:4), but most of the people either hid in caves, holes, cisterns and tombs, or fled across the Jordan to the E (13:6, 7). Saul was forced to fall back from Michmash. All the forces of Israel were at Geba when Jonathan and his armor-bearer decided to probe the Philistine defenses (14:1). How much time had elapsed during the period of inactivity is indefinite, but Saul had waited at least seven days for the appearance of Samuel. The Philistines had sent out three raiding parties to the N, W, and E. This was prob. intended to harass the tribes of Israel and to scatter Saul’s forces before he was in a position for a decisive encounter. Jonathan crossed over the deep and precipitous Wadi Suweinit which separates Geba from Michmash. Through a predetermined sign—the response of the Philistine sentries—Jonathan ascertained the will of God and fell upon the Philistine camp, killing about twenty men (14:8-14). The confus ion in the camp alerted Saul and his remaining force of six hundred men, and they, together with some of the Israelites who had been pressed into service by the Philistines (14:21), and with others who came out of hiding (14:22), pursued the Philistines who fled via the Beth-horon pass. During the engagement, Saul laid an oath on the people that none should eat anything until evening, and until he was avenged on his enemies (14:24). Jonathan, ignorant of the oath, ate some honey he found along the way (14:27). His act prevented the function of the oracle, and his sin was discovered (14:27, 42). Saul would have killed his own son, but the people ransomed him (14:45).

2. Friendship with David. Although Saul was engaged in constant warfare with Moab, Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines, nothing more is said concerning the military exploits of Jonathan until he met death with his father and brothers, Abinadad and Malchishua, on Mount Gilboa. His sterling character is manifest, however, in another warfare—the warfare for prestige and popularity between his father and David. Jonathan met David soon after David’s successful encounter with Goliath and he loved him immediately (18:1). No other friendship has surpassed that of his for David. He had nothing to gain by his unceasing devotion, but everything to lose. At least three covenants between Jonathan and David are recorded. (a) At the first meeting, “because he loved him as his own soul,” Jonathan made a covenant with David and sealed the covenant by presenting his clothing and armor to David (18:3, 4). Later, when open hostility broke out between Saul and David because of David’s continued military success and his growing popularity, Jonathan intervened and brought about a temporary reconciliation (19:1-6). (b) Eventually, however, Saul again decided to rid himself of his rival by direct means. Jonathan, apparently unaware of Saul’s intentions, was approached by David in an attempt to ascertain the reasoning behind Saul’s action. Jonathan’s guilelessness and naivete are clearly evident when he confidently asserts, “...my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me” (20:2). By means of a plan devised by David, Jonathan learned the real intent of his father and relayed this information to David. A second covenant arose out of this meeting which stressed David’s attitude toward Jonathan and his descendants. Jonathan acknowledged that David would be the next king, and he wished David to swear that he would have mercy on his house (20:14-17). David kept this covenant and proved himself true to his friend. (c) The third covenant is mentioned only briefly (23:18). David was an exile hiding in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. Despite his father’s known enmity toward David, Jonathan visited him at Horesh. He stated clearly that David would be the next king and claimed that his father Saul also realized this fact. The covenant was renewed and the friendship sealed again.

3. Death. Though in a very difficult position, Jonathan remained true to David until that fateful day when he also proved his undying devotion to his father on Mount Gilboa. David summarized it well when he wrote, “In life and in death they were not divided” (2 Sam 1:23). The men of Jabesh-gilead rescued the bodies of Saul and his sons from the walls of Beth-shan and gave them a burial worthy of heroes (1 Sam 31:11-13). Later, David removed the bones of Saul and Jonathan from Jabesh-gilead and buried them in the tomb of Kish in Zela of Benjamin (2 Sam 21:12-14).

4. Descendants. He was survived by only one son, Mephibosheth (4:4) or, originally, Meribbaal (1 Chron 8:34); two sisters, Merab and Michal (1 Sam 14:49); and a brother, Ishbosheth (2 Sam 2:8) or, originally, Ishvi (1 Sam 14:49) or Eshbaal (1 Chron 8:33).

Bibliography G. B. Caird, I and II Samuel, IB, II (1953); H. W. Hertzberg, I and II Samuel (1964).

2. Son of Gershom and grandson of Moses (Judg 18:30). A Levite from Bethlehem of Judah (17:7), he traveled to the hill country of Ephraim and was installed by Micah as his household priest (17:9). He was discovered by five spies from the tribe of Dan who recognized him and made use of his divinatory ability (18:2-6). Later, when some of the Danites migrated to the N, they stopped again at the house of Micah, stole the cultic equipment accumulated by Micah (including a graven and molten image—whether one or two images is meant is uncertain—an ephod, and teraphim) and talked the willing Jonathan into becoming priest for the entire tribe of Dan (18:14-20). A sanctuary was established at Dan—a site formerly called Laish—where Jonathan and his descendants served as priests until the fall of Israel to the Assyrians in the 8th cent. b.c. (18:29-31). The MT inserts an n into the name of Moses and prefers to read Manasseh, but the evidence is conclusive that Moses should be read. Perhaps the intention of the author is to indicate how far removed this worship was from the established religion of the ancestor Moses.

Bibliography J. M. Myers, “Judges,” IB, II (1953), 801-808; Y. Kaufmann, The Religion of Israel (1960), 196 (fn. 12); R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel (1961), 307f.

3. Son of Abiathar the priest (2 Sam 15:27). With Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, he acted as a courier for David during the revolt by Absalom. The young men waited at En-rogel (17:17) for word brought by a maidservant concerning events in Jerusalem, and this word they carried to David at the fords of the Jordan. Later, when Adonijah proclaimed himself successor to his father David, Jonathan carried word to the celebrants at En-rogel that King David had ordered Solomon anointed king at Gihon (1 Kings 1:42-45).

4. Son of Shimei (2 Sam 21:21) or Shimea (1 Chron 20:7), David’s brother. He killed a giant from Gath who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He should not be confused with the son of Shammah (No. 5, below), since this latter was not a Bethlehemite, but perhaps he may be equated with the “uncle” of David (No. 8).

5. Son of “Shammah the Hararite” (2 Sam 23:33). He is listed as a member of the “Thirty,” an elite group of David’s warriors. He is called the son of Shagee the Hararite in 1 Chronicles 11:34.

6. Son of Jada, brother of Jether, nephew of Shammai, and father of Peleth and Zaza, a descendant of the line of Jerahmeel who allied themselves with the tribe of Judah (2:32f.).

7. Son of Uzziah and overseer of the provincial storehouses (treasuries) in the country, cities, villages, and the towers during the reign of David (27:25).

dōd) of David>8. Uncle (dōd) of David (27:32). A wise and understanding counselor of David, and also a scribe. He and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni were with the sons of the king. Some have preferred to read dōd as “brother’s son” or “kinsman” (2 Sam 21:21; 1 Chron 20:7), and thus equate him with the son of Shimei, David’s brother.

9. Father of Ebed, who was head of the family of Adin, who returned to Jerusalem from the Exile with fifty of his kinsmen and Ezra the scribe (Ezra 8:6; 1 Esd 8:32).

10. Son of Asahel, who, with Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah, either supported (KJV) or opposed (RSV) the formation of an investigative committee to look into the matter of interracial marriages among the Jews in Judah (Ezra 10:15; 1 Esd 9:14).

Bibliography R. A. Bowman, “Ezra,” IB, III (1954), 654-657; J. M. Myers, “Ezra,” Anchor Bible (1965), 81, 87f.

11. One of the line of high priests who returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel and Jeshua (Neh 12:11). His father was Joiada; his son Jaddua. He was possibly a contemporary of Ezra, for Jehohanan the son (descendant) of Eliashib is mentioned as having a chamber which Ezra used for meditation and mourning over the conditions in Judah (Ezra 10:6). Probably the same as Johanan (10) (Neh 12:22f.).

Bibliography R. A. Bowman, op. cit., 786-789; J. M. Myers, op. cit., 196-199.

12. One of the priests of the family of Malluchi who served during the high priesthood of Joiakim (Neh 12:14).

13. Son of Shemaiah and father of Zechariah who was one of the priests with a trumpet who accompanied Ezra in the ceremony to mark the completion of the rebuilding of the wall (Neh 12:35).

14. A secretary during the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah whose house was used as a prison in which Jeremiah was confined (Jer 37:15, 20; 38:26).

15. One of the sons of Kareah (Jer 40:8 in MT and KJV). The name is omitted in the RSV as a dittography of Johanan (1), since it does not appear in the LXX or in the parallel passage of 2 Kings 25:23.

16. Son of Mattathias, surnamed Apphus (1 Macc 2:5). A leader during the Maccabean revolt and successor to Judah. Though not as great a military leader as the latter, he showed a greater diplomatic ability. Arrested by Trypho through treachery, he was subsequently murdered after Simon had paid a ransom for his release (12:48ff.).

17. Son of Absalom whom Simon sent with an army to Joppa. He occupied the city (13:11).

18. A priest who led in prayer at the dedication service for the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem (2 Macc 1:23).

Bibliography W. P. Paterson, “Jonathan,” HDB, II (1934), 753-755; D. F. Roberts, “Jonathan,” ISBE, III (1952), 1730; J Knox, “Jonathan,” IDB, II (1962), 967f.; J. Arman, “Jonathan,” EBi, III (1965), 532f.