Jonathan: Edit history

Biblical Account

The name means "the LORD has given" in Hebrew. Several people in the Bible bear this name. This article covers Jonathan the son of Saul.

• The Battle of Michmash: In 1 Samuel 13–14, Jonathan attacks the Philistine camp with only his young armor-bearer and so opens the way to victory. On this occasion he says, "there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few" (1 Samuel 14:6). During the battle he eats honey, not knowing that Saul had bound the people by an oath to fast. He is condemned to die, but the people rescue him (1 Samuel 14:24–45).
• Covenant with David: After the episode with Goliath, the soul of Jonathan is knit with the soul of David, and the two make a covenant. Jonathan gives David his robe, his garments, his sword, his bow, and his girdle (1 Samuel 18:1–4).
• Protecting David: When Saul seeks to kill David, Jonathan defends David before his father (ch. 19). He warns David of danger with a signal of shot arrows and then renews his covenant with David's house (ch. 20). While David is a fugitive in the wilderness, Jonathan goes to him and "strengthened his hand in God." He tells David that David will be king and that he himself will be next to him (1 Samuel 23:16–18).
• Death: He dies in battle on Mount Gilboa together with his father and brothers (1 Samuel 31; 1 Chronicles 10). David composes a lament in his honor (2 Samuel 1:17–27).
• Aftermath: For Jonathan's sake, David gives Jonathan's lame son Mephibosheth a place at the king's table (2 Samuel 4:4; ch. 9).

Significance Within the Bible

The Bible portrays Jonathan as one who accepted God's choice of David even though he himself was heir to the throne. It records the kindness David showed to Mephibosheth as faithfulness to the covenant between the two men. The New Testament does not mention Jonathan directly.

Interpretations and Debates

• Covenant friendship: Many church traditions read the relationship between the two men as a model of faithful friendship pledged before God. Some scholars note that in ancient Near Eastern treaty documents, the term "love" could also denote political loyalty.
• The nature of the relationship: Some modern interpreters read the relationship as homosexual, pointing to the phrase "passing the love of women" in 2 Samuel 1:26. Traditional interpretation and the major denominations in Korea reject this reading and regard the relationship as a friendship (see Homosexuality and the Church).
• The choice to remain with his father: Jonathan stayed at Saul's side rather than following David. Some interpreters see this as filial devotion and loyalty. Others see it as a failure to make a decisive choice.
• Details beyond the text: The claim that Jonathan was much older than David is an inference from factors such as the length of Saul's reign. The text does not state his age directly.

In the Korean Church

In Korean churches, sermons and Sunday school lessons often use the story of "David and Jonathan" to teach true friendship, self-giving love, and the courage of faith shown at the Battle of Michmash. A Korean gospel music group named "David and Jonathan" after the two men is also reported to have been active.