Jonathan (Hebrew origin: God gave)
(1 Samuel 13:2). 11th century b.c.e.
Jonathan, son of King Saul, was a courageous and daring officer in his father's army. In the war against the Philistines, he commanded a third of the Israelite army and performed acts of great valor. David came to Saul's court and formed a deep friendship with Jonathan. Saul, who suffered from depression and paranoia, became jealous of David's
successes in battle and ordered Jonathan to kill him. Jonathan warned David of his
father's murderous intentions and told him to hide. Jonathan went to his father and asked him not to harm David, who had done nothing against the king and, on the contrary, risked his life, fighting against the Philistines. Saul agreed, but went on to make numerous attempts on David's life.
Jonathan and David saw each other one last time when Jonathan went to the wilderness of Ziph to meet David, who had become the chief of an outlaw band. Jonathan told him not to fear, that the hand of Saul would never touch him, and that, one day, David would be king and Jonathan would be second to him. Jonathan fought at the side of his father in a battle against the Philistines near Mount Gilboa. He and his brothers Abidanab and Malchishua died fighting, and Saul committed suicide. Jonathan was survived by a son named Mephibosheth, who fell from his nurse's arms and became lame. Years later, when the boy was grown up, David brought him to the court and, for the sake of Jonathan's memory, restored to him the lands of his grandfather Saul.
Read more biographies from Who's Who in the Jewish Bible.
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