JONATHAN
“Jehovah has given.”
(a) Levite, son or descendant of Gershom son of Moses (Judg. 18:30). Undoubtedly this is the same Levite who went to Bethlehem of Judah, and who later left this city to seek another residence.
On Mount Ephraim he agreed to serve as a hired priest in Micah’s house; Contrary to the Law, the young Levite consented to it.
The idol was later stolen by migrating Danites, and the priest became the first in a line that continued until “the day of the captivity of the land” (Judg. 18:30). This captivity has reference to the exile of the ark of Shiloh (cf. Judges 18:31).
(b) Saul’s firstborn (1 Sam. 14:49; cf. 1 Sam. 20:31). He was a brave man and full of faith. He slew the Philistine garrison at Geba (1 Sam. 13:2, 3).
The Philistines gathered their armies; Jonathan was accompanied only by his armor bearer, trusting in the Lord, and confronted them, and the Philistines fell before him. Unaware of the curse pronounced by his father against him eating nothing until evening, Jonathan took some wild honey.
Desiring to continue the victory, Saul inquired of Jehovah, but received no answer. Therefore lots were cast to find out why the Lord did not respond, and the lot fell on Jonathan. Saul ruled that Jonathan must die, but the army prevented him from doing so (1 Sam. 14:1-46).
Upon the death of Goliath at the hands of David, Jonathan made a covenant with him, because “he loved him as himself” (1 Sam. 18:1), and gave him some of his clothes and his weapons (1 Sam. 18 : 3-4).
He later protected David from the wrath of Saul, although he was heir to the throne, and consented to David being king; he only wanted to be second in the kingdom, after David (1 Sam. 19:1-7; 20:1-42; 23:16-18).
However, Jonathan stayed behind with his father, instead of giving unconditional allegiance to God’s chosen one, and died with his father (1 Sam. 30:2). He is a type of the double-minded person, and shows the danger of not acting in a decisive manner (cf. 1 Sam. 20:42; 23:16, 18).
In fulfillment of his oath to Jonathan, David took his son Mephibosheth under his protection.
(c) Son of Abiathar the high priest (2 Sam. 15:27, 36; 17:17, 20; 1 Kings 1:42, 43).
(d) Son of Shimea, brother of David, he slew a giant (2 Sam. 21:20-22).
(e) Uncle or relative of David, his counselor and secretary (1 Chron. 27:32).
(f) The scribe in whose house Jeremiah was imprisoned (Jer. 37:15, 20; 38:26).
(g) There are also nine other characters with this name in the OT: 2 Sam. 23:32; 1 Chron. 11:34; 2:32, 33; Esd. 8:6; 9:15; Neh. 12:11, 14; 12:35; Jer. 40:8.