Jonathan (1 Samuel 13:2–3; 1 Samuel 14:1; 1 Samuel 14:6; 1 Samuel 14:12–14; 1 Samuel 14:27–29; 1 Samuel 14:45; 1 Samuel 18:1–4; 1 Samuel 19:4–7; 1 Samuel 20:14–17; 1 Samuel 20:33–34; 1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 23:16–18; 1 Samuel 31:2; 2 Samuel 1:26; 2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 9:7; 2 Samuel 21:7; 2 Samuel 21:12–14; 1 Chronicles 8:33–34)

Son of Saul, Friend of David

The first-named son of King Saul, who smote the Philistine garrison in Geba, went over with his armorbearer to another garrison, was rescued by the people from his father's oath, loved David as his own soul and made covenant with him, spoke for David to Saul, and was slain with his father on mount Gilboa.

Jonathan first appears at the head of part of Saul's chosen men: “a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin” (1 Samuel 13:2), and “Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba” (1 Samuel 13:3). The sons of Saul are listed as “Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchishua” (1 Samuel 14:49). With only his armorbearer he went over to another Philistine garrison, saying, “it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6). When Saul's oath was later turned against him, the people said, “he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not” (1 Samuel 14:45).

After David spoke with Saul, “the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1). He made a covenant with David and gave him his robe, sword, bow and girdle (1 Samuel 18:3-4). When Saul spoke of slaying David, “Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father” (1 Samuel 19:4). When David fled to him, Jonathan asked that David “not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever” (1 Samuel 20:15), and “made a covenant with the house of David” (1 Samuel 20:16). At the new moon Saul cast his spear at him, and Jonathan “arose from the table in fierce anger” (1 Samuel 20:34), “for he was grieved for David” (1 Samuel 20:34). He and David parted weeping, under the oath “Jehovah shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed, for ever” (1 Samuel 20:42). Later he went to David in the wood of Ziph and “strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16), saying, “thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee” (1 Samuel 23:17).

“The Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul” (1 Samuel 31:2). David lamented over Saul and Jonathan: “I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan” (2 Samuel 1:26). Later David asked, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1), and Jonathan's son Mephibosheth ate at the king's table. When the king delivered seven of Saul's sons to the Gibeonites, he “spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah’s oath that was between them” (2 Samuel 21:7), and the bones of Saul and Jonathan were buried “in the sepulchre of Kish his father” (2 Samuel 21:14). The New Testament does not name him.

Strengths

• Trust that the LORD can save by many or by few
• Climbed up against the garrison
• Loved David as his own soul
• Spake good of David to Saul
• Kept his word to tell David
• Strengthened David's hand in God

Themes

• Faith and daring
• Covenant friendship
• Between a father and a friend
• Kindness for his sake
• Death at Gilboa

Smites the garrison in Geba (1 Samuel 13:1–4; 1 Samuel 13:16; 1 Samuel 13:22)

With a thousand of Saul's chosen men at Gibeah, Jonathan smites the Philistine garrison in Geba, and Saul blows the trumpet throughout all the land; in the day of battle only Saul and Jonathan have sword and spear.

Jonathan and his armorbearer (1 Samuel 14:1–23)

Without telling his father, Jonathan goes over with his armorbearer to the Philistine garrison between the crags, trusting that the LORD may work for them; they slay about twenty men, the camp trembles, and the LORD saves Israel that day.

Jonathan and his armorbearer

“Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on yonder side. But he told not his father” (1 Samuel 14:1).

“Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few. And his armorbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee, behold, I am with thee according to thy heart” (1 Samuel 14:6-7). Jonathan named a sign: if the Philistines said, “Come up unto us; then we will go up; for Jehovah hath delivered them into our hand” (1 Samuel 14:10).

The men of the garrison answered, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing” (1 Samuel 14:12). “And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armorbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armorbearer slew them after him. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armorbearer made, was about twenty men” (1 Samuel 14:13-14).

“And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people” (1 Samuel 14:15). “So Jehovah saved Israel that day” (1 Samuel 14:23).

The honey and the lot (1 Samuel 14:24–30; 1 Samuel 14:36–46)

Jonathan, who has not heard Saul's oath against eating, tastes honey; when the lot falls on him he tells Saul what he did, and the people rescue him from death.

The honey and the lot

Saul had adjured the people, “Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies” (1 Samuel 14:24). “But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened” (1 Samuel 14:27). When told of the oath, he said, “My father hath troubled the land” (1 Samuel 14:29).

Saul swore, “as Jehovah liveth, who saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die” (1 Samuel 14:39). “And Jonathan was taken. Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and, lo, I must die” (1 Samuel 14:42-43).

“And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far from it: as Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not” (1 Samuel 14:45).

Covenant with David (1 Samuel 18:1–4)

When David makes an end of speaking to Saul, Jonathan's soul is knit with David's; he loves him as his own soul, makes a covenant with him, and gives him his robe and weapons.

Covenant with David

“And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1).

“Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle” (1 Samuel 18:3-4).

Speaks good of David to Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–7)

Saul tells Jonathan and his servants to slay David; Jonathan, who delights much in David, warns him, speaks good of him to Saul, and Saul swears David shall not be put to death.

The covenant with the house of David (1 Samuel 20:1–23)

David, fled from Naioth, asks what his sin is; Jonathan promises to do whatever David's soul desires, asks kindness for his house for ever, makes a covenant with the house of David, and appoints the arrows by the stone Ezel as a sign.

The covenant with the house of David

David came to Jonathan and said, “What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?” (1 Samuel 20:1). “Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee” (1 Samuel 20:4). David asked, “deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee” (1 Samuel 20:8).

In the field Jonathan swore to send him word, and said, “Jehovah be with thee, as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Jehovah, that I die not; but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever” (1 Samuel 20:13-15).

“So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David’s enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul” (1 Samuel 20:16-17). He appointed three arrows as the sign, and said, “behold, Jehovah is between thee and me for ever” (1 Samuel 20:23).

Saul's anger and the parting (1 Samuel 20:24–42)

When David's place is empty at the new moon, Saul's anger is kindled against Jonathan and he casts his spear at him; Jonathan gives David the sign of the arrows, and they kiss, weep and part under their oath.

Saul's anger and the parting

Saul asked why the son of Jesse had not come to meat, and Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem” (1 Samuel 20:28). “Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan” (1 Samuel 20:30), and Saul said, “send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore should he be put to death? what hath he done?” (1 Samuel 20:31-32).

“And Saul cast his spear at him to smite him; whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to put David to death. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame” (1 Samuel 20:33-34).

In the morning he shot an arrow beyond the lad, the sign he had named. “And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the South, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and 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 Jehovah, saying, Jehovah shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed, for ever” (1 Samuel 20:41-42).

Strengthens David in the wood (1 Samuel 23:14–18)

While Saul seeks David in the wilderness of Ziph, Jonathan goes to him in the wood, strengthens his hand in God, tells him he shall be king over Israel, and they two make a covenant before the LORD.

Strengthens David in the wood

“And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand” (1 Samuel 23:14). “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16).

“And he said unto him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before Jehovah: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house” (1 Samuel 23:17-18).

Slain at Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1–13; 2 Samuel 1:4–5; 1 Chronicles 10:2)

The Philistines follow hard upon Saul and his sons on mount Gilboa and slay Jonathan; the men of Jabesh-gilead take the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan and bury their bones in Jabesh, and the tidings come to David.

David's lament (2 Samuel 1:17–27)

David laments over Saul and over Jonathan his son, calling Jonathan his brother and his love wonderful, passing the love of women.

David's lament

“And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son” (2 Samuel 1:17), and he bade them teach the children of Judah the song of the bow (2 Samuel 1:18).

“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back … Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions” (2 Samuel 1:22-23).

“How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women” (2 Samuel 1:25-26).

Kindness for Jonathan's sake (2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 9:1–13)

Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, lamed as a child when the tidings of Saul and Jonathan came, is fetched from Lo-debar, and David shows him kindness for Jonathan's sake and seats him at the king's table.

The oath remembered and the bones brought home (2 Samuel 21:7; 2 Samuel 21:12–14)

The king spares Mephibosheth because of the LORD's oath between David and Jonathan, takes the bones of Saul and Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead, and they are buried in the sepulchre of Kish in Zela.

Saul (1 Samuel 14:1; 1 Samuel 19:4–7; 1 Samuel 20:30–34; 1 Samuel 31:2)

His father; Jonathan went with him in war, pleaded for David before him, was cast at with his spear, and fell with him at Gilboa.

David (1 Samuel 18:1–4; 1 Samuel 20:1–42; 1 Samuel 23:16–18; 2 Samuel 1:26)

Jonathan loved him as his own soul and made covenant with him three times; David lamented him as “my brother Jonathan.” (2 Samuel 1:26)

Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 9:1–13; 2 Samuel 21:7)

Jonathan's son, five years old when the tidings of Saul and Jonathan came, who fell and became lame; David showed him kindness for Jonathan's sake.

Saul's other sons (1 Samuel 14:49; 1 Samuel 31:2)

Ishvi and Malchishua are named with him among Saul's sons, and the Philistines slew Abinadab and Malchi-shua with him on mount Gilboa.

His armorbearer (1 Samuel 14:6–14)

The young man who bare his armor bade him do all that was in his heart, and climbed up after him and slew the Philistines after him.

The people of Israel (1 Samuel 14:45)

When Saul would have put him to death, the people said he had wrought with God that day and rescued him.

The Philistines (1 Samuel 13:3; 1 Samuel 14:1–14; 1 Samuel 31:1–2)

Jonathan smote their garrison in Geba and, with his armorbearer, went over to another of their garrisons; they slew him on mount Gilboa.

The LORD (1 Samuel 14:6; 1 Samuel 20:42; 1 Samuel 23:18)

Jonathan trusted that the LORD could save by many or by few, and he and David swore in the LORD's name that he should be between them.

Major sections

• 1 Samuel 13–14
• 1 Samuel 18:1–4
• 1 Samuel 19:1–7
• 1 Samuel 20
• 1 Samuel 23:14–18
• 1 Samuel 31
• 2 Samuel 1
• 2 Samuel 9
• 2 Samuel 21:7–14

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