Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

JONATHAN

(Heb. yĕhônāṯān, yônāṯān;
Gk. Iōnathás) (also JEHONATHAN)

1. The son of Gershom; descendant of Moses (Judg. 18:30; MT “Manasseh”). Jonathan was a Levite from Bethlehem hired by Micah to serve at Micah’s personal shrine (Judg. 17–18). He later founded the priesthood at Laish (Dan) that continued until the 8th-century b.c.e. Assyrian invasions (Judg. 18:30).

2. The firstborn son of King Saul and Ahinoam (1 Sam. 14:49; 1 Chr. 8:33; 9:39); father of Meribbaal/Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 9; 1 Chr. 8:34) and friend of David.

The chief lieutenant of Saul’s army, Jonathan defeated the Philistines at Geba (1 Sam. 13:3). He demonstrated particular prowess in battle at Michmash. Aided only by his armor-bearer, he entered the Philistine camp, sending it into a panic (1 Sam. 14:6-15) and setting the stage for a rout by Saul’s forces.

Jonathan’s devotion to David is legendary. Together they made a covenant of friendship (1 Sam. 18:1-4). When Saul plotted to kill David, Jonathan intervened (1 Sam. 19:1-7; 20:1-34, 41-42). Later at Ziph, the two renewed their covenant; Jonathan renounced his claim as Saul’s heir apparent, declaring that David should be the next king and Jonathan his first minister (1 Sam. 23:16-18). Nevertheless, Jonathan remained devoted to his father, and died with Saul in the battle of Mt. Gilboah (1 Sam. 31:1-2).

3. The son of Abiathar, a priest (2 Sam. 15:27; 17:17, 20). Often mentioned with Zadok’s son, Ahimaaz, Jonathan served as courier to David during Absalom’s rebellion. Later, he brought the news of Solomon’s appointment as king to Adonijah (1 Kgs. 1:42-43).

4. Son of Shammah the Hararite (2 Sam. 23:32; called “Shagee” in 1 Chr. 11:34). His name appears in the list of David’s warriors (2 Sam. 23:8-39 = 1 Chr. 11:10-47).

5. The son of Jada; father of Peleth and Zaza; a Jerahmeelite (1 Chr. 2:32-33). Mentioned in the genealogy of “Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron” (2:25-41), he is part of the line traced through Jerahmeel’s “other wife,” Atarah. Since Jonathan’s brother Jether died childless, the line survived through Jonathan’s sons.

6. The son of Shimei (called “Shimea” in 1 Chr. 20:7), David’s brother (2 Sam. 21:21; 1 Chr. 20:7). He killed a 12-fingered, 12-toed Philistine giant who taunted Israel. The death was either fourth (2 Sam. 21:20-21) or third (1 Chr. 20:6-7) in a series of giant killings done by “the hands of David and his servants” (2 Sam. 21:15-22; 1 Chr. 20:4-8). In some LXX manuscripts he is called Jonadab (2 Sam. 13:3). He is sometimes identified with Jonathan, David’s official (1 Chr. 27:32; 8 below).

7. The son of Uzziah (1 Chr. 27:25). One of the officials responsible for David’s property, he oversaw the treasuries in the country, cities, villages and towns (but not the “king’s treasuries,” a duty ascribed to Azmaveth).

8. The uncle of King David (1 Chr. 27:32; NEB “nephew”; cf. 20:7). His name appears in a list of David’s officials (1 Chr. 27:25-34) where he is described as “a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe” (NRSV). He is sometimes identified with Jethiel as tutor to David’s sons (1 Chr. 27:32b) or with the “son of Shimei” (2 Sam. 21:20-21 = 1 Chr. 20:6-7; 6 above).

9. The father of Ebed; descendant of Adin (Ezra 8:6; 1 Esdr. 8:32). His son is listed among family heads who returned from the Exile with Ezra, bringing with him either 50 (Ezra 8:6) or 250 (1 Esdr. 8:32) men.

10. The son of Asahel (Ezra 10:15; 1 Esdr. 9:14). He, along with Jehzeiah, opposed either the implementation of Ezra’s marital reforms, or the commission set up for the task. He was supported in this action by two Levites, Meshullam and Shabbethai. While the MT records Jonathan’s opposition, the LXX reads that Jonathan agreed with Ezra.

11. The son of Joiada and father of Jaddua; a high priest during the postexilic period (Neh. 12:11), and one of the Levites who accompanied Zerubbabal to Jerusalem. He is sometimes identified with Eliashib’s descendant (son, Neh. 12:23; or grandson, v. 10), in whose house Ezra stayed (Ezra 10:6; 1 Esdr. 9:1; NRSV “Jehohanan”).

12. A priest and ancestral head of the house of Malluchi during Joiakim’s high priesthood (Neh. 12:14).

13. The son of Shemaiah, father of Zechariah (a Levite), and a descendant of Asaph (Neh. 12:35). His son, a priestly musician, took part in the dedication of Jerusalem’s walls.

14. The secretary whose house served as a temporary prison for Jeremiah (Jer. 37:15, 20; 38:26). Some translations read “Jehonathan.”

15. The son of Kareah (Jer. 40:8ff.; MT reads “Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah” but this should be understood as a dittography of “Johanan,” since it is omitted in the LXX and in the parallel passage in 2 Kgs. 25:23). Against Jeremiah’s advice (Jer. 42:1-22), he and the other commanders led the people to Egypt, taking Jeremiah with them (43:1-7).

Linda S. Schearing

16. The son of Mattathias who assumed the leadership of the Jewish resistance forces in the wake of the reversals they suffered after the death of Judas Maccabeus in 160 b.c.e. (1 Macc. 9:23-31). In 1 Macc. 2:5 he is the last of the five sons listed. With the assistance of his brother Simon, Jonathan launched a series of guerilla attacks on the fortresses of Seleucid troops. Rival claimants to the Seleucid throne then attempted to enlist his support in their struggles for ascendancy. He was designated a “friend” of the king and the first Hasmonean to be appointed high priest as well as general and governor of the province by both Alexander Balas and Demetrius II Nicator (1 Macc. 10:65-66; 11:26-28). He also was the first Hasmonean authorized to recruit and equip an army.

Jonathan did besiege the citadel, the fortification which provided housing for a Seleucid garrison in Jerusalem and sometimes also sheltered Jewish opponents of the Hasmoneans. Through strategic shifts in allegiance Jonathan’s power and prestige were enhanced and the territory controlled by him and Simon his brother extended, largely by force. Employing deceit, Trypho captured Jonathan in Ptolemais and then killed him, apparently in the winter of 143/142 (1 Macc. 12:24–13:24). His bones were buried in Modein, the ancestral home of the Hasmoneans. It was Jonathan who laid the groundwork to establish this dynastic family as a significant force in the waning decades of the Seleucid Empire.

Josephus includes his first reference to the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes in the middle of the account concerning Jonathan (Ant. 13.171-73). This frequently has been cited as evidence of their origins by the time of or during Jonathan’s reign. Some scholars have considered Jonathan to be the Wicked Priest mentioned in Pesher Habakkuk and Pesher Ps. 37. While this evidence suggests the importance of the Hasmonean period for the growth of Jewish sectarianism, it is more difficult to relate the material specifically to Jonathan.

John Kampen

17. The son of Absalom (1 Macc. 13:11), sent to Joppa by Simon Maccabeus to defend and hold the city.

18. A priest during Nehemiah’s time, who led the prayer over the sacrifice (2 Macc. 1:23).

Linda S. Schearing

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

JONATHAN

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)