Jonathan (Samuel)
Encyclopedia
Jonathan is a heroic figure in 1 Samuel
in the Hebrew Bible
. He was the son of King Saul and close friend of King David. The relationship between David and Jonathan
is one of the most notable biblical relationships.
Jonathan first appears in the biblical narrative as the victor of Geba
, a Philistine stronghold (1 Samuel 13), while in the following chapter he carries out a lone attack on another Philistine garrison, demonstrating his "prowess and courage as a warrior." However, he eats honey without knowing that his father had said, "Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes" (1 Samuel 14:24). Saul means to put Jonathan to death because of this, but relents when the soldiers protest (1 Samuel 14:45).
The story of David and Jonathan
is introduced in chapter 18, where it says that "Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself" (verse 1). Jonathan helps David escape from Saul, and asks him to show kindness to his family (1 Samuel 20:14-15), which indicates that Jonathan recognizes David as the future king.
Saul suspects that Jonathan is colluding with David, and calls him "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman!" (1 Samuel 20:30). While this is an "idiom of insult directed at Jonathan", some scholars see in this verse support for the theory that Ahinoam
, the wife of Saul was also the wife of David. Jon Levenson
and Baruch Halpern
suggest that the phrase "to the shame of your mother's nakedness" suggests "David's theft of Saul's wife".
Jonathan dies tragically at Mount Gilboa along with his father and brothers (1 Samuel 31). Jonathan was the father of Mephibosheth
, to whom David showed special kindness for Jonathan's sake (2 Samuel 9).
T. H. Jones remarks that Jonathan is a "model of loyalty to truth and friendship".
Books of Samuel
The Books of Samuel in the Jewish bible are part of the Former Prophets, , a theological history of the Israelites affirming and explaining the Torah under the guidance of the prophets.Samuel begins by telling how the prophet Samuel is chosen by...
in the Hebrew Bible
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
. He was the son of King Saul and close friend of King David. The relationship between David and Jonathan
David and Jonathan
David and Jonathan were heroic figures of the Kingdom of Israel, whose covenant was recorded favourably in the books of Samuel. Jonathan was the son of Saul, king of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and David was the son of Jesse of Bethlehem and Jonathan's presumed rival for the crown...
is one of the most notable biblical relationships.
Jonathan first appears in the biblical narrative as the victor of Geba
Geba
Geba - the hill, , a Levitical city of Benjamin on the north border of Judah adjacent to Ramah in Benjamin north of Gibeah. It has been identified with Jeb'a, about 5½ miles north of Jerusalem...
, a Philistine stronghold (1 Samuel 13), while in the following chapter he carries out a lone attack on another Philistine garrison, demonstrating his "prowess and courage as a warrior." However, he eats honey without knowing that his father had said, "Cursed be any man who eats food before evening comes" (1 Samuel 14:24). Saul means to put Jonathan to death because of this, but relents when the soldiers protest (1 Samuel 14:45).
The story of David and Jonathan
David and Jonathan
David and Jonathan were heroic figures of the Kingdom of Israel, whose covenant was recorded favourably in the books of Samuel. Jonathan was the son of Saul, king of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, and David was the son of Jesse of Bethlehem and Jonathan's presumed rival for the crown...
is introduced in chapter 18, where it says that "Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself" (verse 1). Jonathan helps David escape from Saul, and asks him to show kindness to his family (1 Samuel 20:14-15), which indicates that Jonathan recognizes David as the future king.
Saul suspects that Jonathan is colluding with David, and calls him "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman!" (1 Samuel 20:30). While this is an "idiom of insult directed at Jonathan", some scholars see in this verse support for the theory that Ahinoam
Ahinoam
Ahinoam is a Hebrew name literally meaning brother of pleasantness, thus meaning pleasant.There are two references in the Bible to people who bear that name:...
, the wife of Saul was also the wife of David. Jon Levenson
Jon D. Levenson
Jon D. Levenson is the Albert A. List Professor of Jewish Studies at the Harvard Divinity School.-Education:*Ph.D. Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University, 1975,*M.A...
and Baruch Halpern
Baruch Halpern
Baruch Halpern is the Chaiken Family Chair in Jewish Studies at Pennsylvania State University. He has been a leader of the archaeological digs at Tel Megiddo since 1992. As an undergraduate at Harvard in 1972, he wrote a political analysis of the Bible, which subsequently influenced research into...
suggest that the phrase "to the shame of your mother's nakedness" suggests "David's theft of Saul's wife".
Jonathan dies tragically at Mount Gilboa along with his father and brothers (1 Samuel 31). Jonathan was the father of Mephibosheth
Mephibosheth
Mephibosheth was the name of two men of the family of Saul, who is stated in the books of Samuel of the Hebrew Bible to have been the first king of ancient Israel:...
, to whom David showed special kindness for Jonathan's sake (2 Samuel 9).
T. H. Jones remarks that Jonathan is a "model of loyalty to truth and friendship".