The meaning of Jonathan (1) in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
jon'-a-than (yehonathan, yonathan, "Yahweh has given"; Ionathan; compare JEHONATHAN):
(1) (Hebrew yehonathan): The young "Levite" of Judges 17; 18 referred to by name in Judges 18:30, where he is called "the son of Gershom, the son of Moses," and where the King James Version has "Manasseh" for Moses, following the Massoretic Text in which the letter nun of Manasseh is "suspended."
Rashi states the reason thus: "Because of the honor of Moses was the nun written so as to alter the name." The original word was Moses, but it was thought undesirable that a descendant of his should have anything to do with images; and so Jonathan was made to have affinity (metaphorically) with Manasseh. See GB, Intro, 335-38.
Jonathan was a Levitical Judahite of Beth-lehem-judah, who came to the house of Micah, in the hill country of Ephraim, and hired himself as a priest in Micah's sanctuary (Judges 17:1-13). The Danites sent 5 men north to spy for new territory, and on their way the spies came to the house of Micah, where they found Jonathan and consulted the oracle through him (Judges 18:1-5). Having received a favorable answer, they set out and came to Laish, and on their return south they advised that an expedition be sent thither (Judges 18:6-10). Their clansmen accordingly sent out a band of warriors who on their way passed by Micah's house. The spies informed their comrades of the ephod and teraphim and images there, and they seized them, inducing Jonathan at the same time to accompany them as their priest (Judges 18:11-20). At Laish he founded a priesthood which was thus descended from Moses (Judges 18:30).
It has been held that there are two sources in the narrative in Judges 17; 18 (see Moore, Judges, 365-72). The section is important because of the light it throws on life and religion in early Israel. The "Levites" were not all of one tribe (see Moore, op. cit., 383-84); there were priests who claimed descent from Moses as well as Aaronite priests; and images were common in early Hebrew worship (compare Genesis 31:30 ff.; Judges 8:27; I Samuel 19:13).
(2) Son of King Saul. See separate article.
(3) (Hebrew yehonathan, yonathan, II Samuel 15:27, II Samuel 15:36; II Samuel 17:17, II Samuel 17:20; I Kings 1:42-43): Son of Abiathar the priest. He acted with Ahimaaz as courier to inform David of events at Jerusalem during Absalom's revolt. It was he who also brought to Adonijah the news of Solomon's accession.
(4) (Hebrew yehonathan, II Samuel 21:21 parallel I Chronicles 20:7): Son of Shimei or Shimea, David's brother; he is said to be the slayer of Goliath.
See JEHONADAB (1).
(5) (II Samuel 23:32, Hebrew yehonathan = I Chronicles 11:34, Hebrew yonathan): One of David's mighty men.
See JASHEN.
(6) (Hebrew yonathan, I Chronicles 2:32-33): A Jerahmeelite.
(7) (Hebrew yehonathan, and so I Chronicles 27:25 the King James Version): Son of Uzziah, and one of David's treasurers.
(8) (Hebrew yehonathan, I Chronicles 27:32): A dodh of David, the Revised Version (British and American) "uncle," the Revised Version margin "brother's son"; if he was David's nephew, he will be the same as (4) above. He "was a counselor" to David, and "a man of understanding, and a scribe."
(9) (Hebrew yonathan, Ezra 8:6; 1 Esdras 8:32): Father of Ebed, a returned exile.
(10) (Hebrew yonathan, Ezra 10:15; 1 Esdras 9:14): One who either supported (Revised Version (British and American)) or opposed (Revised Version margin, the King James Version) Ezra in the matter of foreign marriages; see JAHZEIAH.
(11) (Hebrew yonathan, Nehemiah 12:11): A priest, descendant of Jeshua (Joshua) = "Johanan" (Nehemiah 12:22-23); see JEHOHANAN, (3).
(12) (Hebrew yonathan, Nehemiah 12:14): A priest.
(13) (Hebrew yonathan, Nehemiah 12:35): A priest, father of Zechariah.
(14) (Hebrew yehonathan, Jeremiah 37:15, Jeremiah 37:20; Jeremiah 38:26): A scribe in whose house Jeremiah was imprisoned.
(15) (Hebrew yonathan, Jeremiah 40:8): Son of Kareah; a Judahite captain who joined Gedaliah after the fall of Jerusalem.
(16) (Ionathes, 1 Macc 2:5; 9 through 13; and Inathan 2 Macc 8:22; Swete reads Ionathes): The Maccabee surnamed Apphus in 1 Macc 2:5, son of Mattathias.
(17) Son of Absalom (1 Macc 13:11). He was sent by Simon the Maccabee to capture Joppa (compare 1 Macc 11:70, where there is mentioned a Mattathias, son of Absalom).
(18) A priest who led in prayer at the first sacrifice after the return from exile (2 Macc 1:23).
David Francis Roberts
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