Jonathan

About Jonathan Written by AI

Jonathan, a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, is mentioned in the book of Judges as a priest who served the tribe of Dan. The Danites, who had not yet secured their inheritance, sent out spies to find a suitable place to settle. The spies came to the house of Micah, where they encountered Jonathan, who was serving as Micah's personal priest (Judges 18:3 to 4). When the Danites later returned to take possession of the land, they also took Micah's carved image, ephod, household gods, and Jonathan to serve as their priest (Judges 18:19 to 20). Jonathan, being a Levite, was likely seen as a legitimate religious authority, despite the fact that the Danites were setting up an idolatrous worship system. The narrative in Judges 18 highlights the moral and spiritual decline of Israel during the period of the judges, as the Danites adopted false worship practices and the Levites, who were meant to serve God, became complicit in these practices. Jonathan's story serves as an example of the compromises and failures of religious leaders during this turbulent time in Israel's history.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Jonathan, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

Whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture. The chief of these are, (1.) A Levite descended from Gershom (Judg. 18:30). His history is recorded in 17:7-13 and 18:30. The Rabbins changed this name into Manasseh “to screen the memory of the great lawgiver from the stain of having so unworthy an apostate among his near descendants.” He became priest of the idol image at Dan, and this office continued in his family till the Captivity.

(2.) The eldest son of king Saul, and the bosom friend of David. He is first mentioned when he was about thirty years of age, some time after his father’s accession to the throne (1 Sam. 13:2). Like his father, he was a man of great strength and activity (2 Sam. 1:23), and excelled in archery and slinging (1 Chr. 12:2;2 Sam. 1:22). The affection that evidently subsisted between him and his father was interrupted by the growth of Saul’s insanity. At length, “in fierce anger,” he left his father’s presence and cast in his lot with the cause of David (1 Sam. 20:34). After an eventful career, interwoven to a great extent with that of David, he fell, along with his father and his two brothers, on the fatal field of Gilboa (1 Sam. 31:2, 8). He was first buried at Jabesh-gilead, but his remains were afterwards removed with those of his father to Zelah, in Benjamin (2 Sam. 21:12-14). His death was the occasion of David’s famous elegy of “the Song of the Bow” (2 Sam. 1:17-27). He left one son five years old, Merib-baal, or Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 4:4; comp. 1 Chr. 8:34).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.