Who was Jonathan in the Bible?

Son of Gershom and grandson of Moses or Manasseh, q.v. Though only a Levite he acted as priest in the house of Micah, who had a graven image, an ephod, and teraphim. He afterwards became priest to the tribe of Dan. He inquired of the Lord for them, and gave a reply as if God had answered him. Judges 17:7-13; Judges 18:1-30. He was called 'a young man out of Beth-lehem-judah, of the family of Judah.' This may mean that he had merely resided there. Bethlehem was not a Levitical city. He had been sojourning where he could in those troublous times.

Son of Saul and friend of David. Jonathan was a valiant man, and a man of faith. He slew the garrison of the Philistines in Geba. 1 Sam. 13:2-3. This caused the Philistines to gather together their armies; and Jonathan went secretly and alone with his armour-bearer, but in reliance on the Lord, up to their garrison, and the Philistines were smitten. But Jonathan, in pursuing them, tasted a little wild honey, not knowing that his father had pronounced a curse upon any that should taste food until evening. Desiring to follow up the victory, Saul inquired of God but received no reply, therefore lots were cast to discover why God would not answer — the lot fell on Jonathan and his father said he must die; but the army rescued him. 1 Sam. 14:1-46.

The story of Saul's family leaves us sick at heart: and yet there was one bright, bright ray of the grace of God even there. Jonathan, meaning "The Lord gave," Saul's son, is one of the most lovely characters in all the Bible. His love for David is still a household word. After David had killed Goliath, "the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul … And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle." (1 Sam. 18:1, 4). And that loving heart was always true to his friend. In the face of his father's bitter hatred, Jonathan was always faithful to him. Read that touching parting between these two, as David had to fly for his life: "They kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, 'Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.'" I know that as David turned his face towards shame and rejection, "Jonathan went into the city." How much happier would he have been sharing David's rejection! His heart was with David, however and he visits him in the wood, "and strengthened his hand in God." (1 Sam. 23:16). But the same sad words follow: "David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house." They remind us of our Lord and Master: "Every man went unto his own house. Jesus went unto the mount of Olives." (John 7:53; John 8:1). Was it the attraction of his own house? or was it loyalty to his father? Why, oh, why did Jonathan not wholeheartedly share the rejection of the one he truly loved, and whom he owned as rightful king? I know not the motives: I only know he did not share the rejection. I think, I hope, it was not that his love failed. Peter once forsook his Lord, and I think it was not because his love failed. I, too, can recall times when I have not been willing to share my Lord's rejection. I can remember times when I have not confessed Him before men. On more than one occasion I have had to sob out Peter's words: "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee!" even though the appearances were all the other way. On that dark night of Peter's denial, there was not one who was willing to share his Master's rejection, but "all forsook Him and fled". When His servant Paul stood before Nero, he walked the same path as his Master, and must write: "No man stood with me, but all forsook me." And today our Master is just as truly rejected as He was in those days of old. Think not, Beloved, it is a light thing to follow the "forgotten and rejected Jesus." It is not; and few there are today who are in any position to blame Jonathan too hardly without condemning themselves.

After the scene at Gilgal, which we have dwelt upon, there was an apparent season of quiet, as suggested in the first verse of the thirteenth chapter. All Israel have returned to their various homes, save 3,000 men, chosen to be the personal guard about Saul; 2,000 of these are with himself, and 1,000 with Jonathan. We have here the first mention of that beautiful character whose presence relieves the gloom of Saul's history, and the pride and self-righteousness which developed apace. Jonathan was altogether a lovely character, a man of genuine faith and devotedness to God; as unlike his father as it is possible to conceive. It will be a pleasure to trace his course, which is brought into clearer relief by contrast with his father's.

Jonathan is really the forerunner of David, and in a marked way he is merged into the man after God's own heart. We will doubtless have occasion to speak of him in other respects at the proper time, but unquestionably the main lessons of his life are most profitable and attractive. From the very beginning, he takes the initiative against the proud enemy, and smites their garrison in Geba the fortified hill.

Jonathan — "Jehovah has given" (as real a gift from God to Israel as Paul to the Church) — came forward at a very evil time in Israel. The King of the people's choice was already a failure. The very enemy that he was specially appointed to save Israel from (1 Sam. 9:16) was oppressing the nation sorely. The people had everywhere been disarmed (the King and his son being alone permitted to keep their swords), and even the black smiths' shops were closed by order of the Philistines lest they should forge weapons. God's time had not yet come for David to be brought upon the scene, and the whole position seemed utterly hopeless. The awfulness of this will only be realised as we remember that Israel was God's chosen people for the blessing and guidance of all the nations upon earth. They had become utterly degraded and impotent by unfaithfulness to God. Is there any picture here of the present forlorn and powerless condition of the Church of God?

But God is never without resource. In every emergency He has His man. So Jonathan was raised up, that fair flower which God caused to blossom in the wilderness of Israel at that sorrowful moment" (Darby). His story may be divided into three parts thus: — His relation to Jehovah. His relation to David. His relation to Saul.

The most memorable event in Jonathan's life, as it is also one of the first recorded, marks him as a man of faith. When Saul's carnal arrangements for carrying on the work of the Lord in Israel failed, his standing army (his first care) reduced to about six hundred men, deprived of their arms and practically shut up in the fortress of Gibeah by the Philistines, Jonathan, in fellowship with one of like spirit and by faith in the Lord alone, met and broke the whole power of the enemy (1 Sam. 14). Both father and son were workers in the Lord's inheritance. The father, with every external advantage, had given up the word of the Lord; the son, with none, relied upon it and refused the resources of the flesh.

The conviction that, if he wrought with God, it must be in separation from Saul must have deeply exercised the affectionate heart of his son; but it was the secret of his power, as subsequent events clearly proved. Is it possible then that he who thus by faith "waxed valiant in fight and turned to flight the armies of the aliens," could ever forget this first, this all-important, lesson? Could he ever enter into an alliance with carnal authority and power, and make flesh his arm? The end of his career, alas! was not at all in keeping with the beginning. He gave up the holy vantage ground which he occupied at Michmash, and, in company with Saul and his army at the terrible battle of Gilboa, was defeated and slain. We have both scenes vividly depicted by the Spirit, and how great the contrast (14, 31)! The final one is briefly told, but with simple and touching pathos. Saul, forsaken of God, his army overpowered, he himself wounded and paralysed with fear and despair, having in vain sought death from the sword of his armour-bearer, fell upon his own. "So he died, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, and all his men that same day together." His body was found soon after by the Philistines among the slain and treated with every indignity. Jonathan's also was not spared. They were then fastened together on the wall of Bethshan until rescued by the gratitude and courage of the men of Jabesh-Gilead.

1 Sam. 14. The Israelites were hiding themselves in caves. Jonathan, Saul's son, was a man of faith: he had previously attacked the Philistines, and now, with his armour-bearer only, began again to smite them. God sent a great earthquake, and the Philistines smote one another. The Israelites also attacked them, and there would have been a greater victory had not Saul, in fleshly zeal, put all under a curse who should eat before the evening. Jonathan, who had not heard of this, tasted a little honey. When evening arrived the people hasted to kill and eat, and would have eaten with the blood had not Saul restrained them. He raised an altar unto God, and then enquired of God, and would have put Jonathan to death for eating the honey had not the people prevented it. Saul had all the outward forms of reverence for God, but he was not a man of faith: he called the Israelites Hebrews, missing the point of their relationship with God. Still God used him to subdue some of the enemies of Israel.

Son of Abiathar the high priest. 2 Sam. 15:27, 36; 2 Sam. 17:17, 20; 1 Kings 1:42-43.

1115). As David humbly spoke to Saul, Jonathan's father, with the head of Goliath dangling in his hand, Jonathan's love went out to David. Eventually a covenant was arranged between them. Jonathan stripped himself and presented David the shepherd with

a princely robe, dress fit for Saul's court, and instruments of war. Jonathan, the heir to the throne of Israel, saw in David one superior to himself in every way. (1 Sam. 18:14). Jonathan's love for David was soon put under stress and it was proved to be real. When Jonathan's father Saul, the king of Israel, gave ominous indications of his hatred towards David, Jonathan courageously and wisely spoke well about David to his father. When that didn't succeed Jonathan warned David of Saul's evil designs toward him. He was a loyal friend to David. The time came when it was too dangerous for David to remain in Saul's court and when Jonathan and he met secretly they covenanted together (1 Sam. 20:8, 16, 23 and 42). The last view we have of David and Jonathan together is in 1 Samuel 23:15-18. Jonathan confidently affirmed that David would eventually be the king of Israel, and hopefully he would be next to David in the kingdom. Then they separated. David to the wilderness, Jonathan to his father's court. It is at this point that we see a fatal flaw in Jonathan's undoubted love for David. He was not prepared to share in David's trials and sorrows but hoped to share in his eventual triumph. Instead of fighting for David he fought for his father's interests and perished with him. (1 Sam. 31). That David appreciated and highly valued Jonathan's love is seen in David's lamentation because of the death of Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam. 1:26). "Thy love to me was wonderful, passing women's love". It is to David's credit that he did not belittle Jonathan's love for him, but it has to be said that Jonathan did not share David's trials and support him to gain the throne that God had decreed he would fill. There is a solemn lesson in this for believers in the Lord Jesus. Our Lord is a rejected King. That one day, perhaps very soon, He will occupy the throne and administer the earth for the glory of God is what the Bible teaches. Are we anticipating the high honour of sharing in that administration and prepared to share actively in His rejection now? (Rom. 8:17; 1 Peter 4:12-14. See also Matt. 19:27-29). Is our love for Jesus, our Saviour, able to withstand the claims of nature and the allurements of this poor doomed world? Can we go through the probings of our consciences as Peter experienced and exclaim as he did "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I am attached to Thee" (John 21:17). If we do we shall hear the Lord say to us "Prove your love to Me by caring for My sheep".

To return to the narrative. Where will David bend his steps now that Jonathan has left him? He is first with Ahimelech the priest, and then escapes to the cave of Adullam.

Faith in God and true-heartedness led Jonathan into conflict with the Philistines, the common foe of Israel. Faith in God's purposes respecting David, and real affection too, led Jonathan to brave many a danger on his behalf with Saul; but now that David is the outcast one and hidden in the cave of Adullam, will Jonathan join him there, and own him in the day of his rejection? Alas! in the record of those whose loyalty and devotedness drew them to David in the cave Jonathan's name is missing! Saul, his house, and the city pulled the other way, and were too strong. The men who gathered to David in Adullam were, it is true, a motley group; but they were gathered to the right person, and in the right place, as the issue proved. The cave gave birth to the mighty men of renown who are chronicled in 2 Samuel 23, the men of might were from thence. No matter where Jonathan was, he was not with David, and therefore was not with God.

Jonathan was prepared to take the second place in the kingdom although he was Saul's heir, knowing that David would be king. He spoke well of David to his father, even although it made his father angry; and he was angry himself when he saw his father's evil disposition towards David. But great as was Jonathan's love for David, and great as was his devotion to him, one thing was lacking; he was not prepared for the place of rejection, he preferred the palace of Saul to the Cave of Adullam with David.