Jonathan
David's Faithful Friend
Jonathan was King Saul's eldest son and heir to the throne, but he is best known for his deep friendship with David. Despite his father's hatred toward David, Jonathan remained loyal to his friend and protected him. He died alongside his father in battle against the Philistines.
Family
Key events
The Victory at Michmash
Jonathan and his armor-bearer attacked the Philistine outpost alone, creating panic that led to Israel's victory.
6Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let's cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will act for us, for nothing can keep the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־הַנַּ֣עַר ׀ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו לְכָה֙ וְנַעְבְּרָ֗ה אֶל־מַצַּב֙ הָעֲרֵלִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אוּלַ֛י יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין לַֽיהוָה֙ מַעְצ֔וֹר לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ בְּרַ֖ב א֥וֹ בִמְעָֽט׃
12The men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us, and we'll teach you a lesson!" Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up behind me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel."
וַיַּעֲנוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַמַּצָּבָ֜ה אֶת־יוֹנָתָ֣ן ׀ וְאֶת־נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙ עֲל֣וּ אֵלֵ֔ינוּ וְנוֹדִ֥יעָה אֶתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָ֑ר פ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־נֹשֵׂ֤א כֵלָיו֙ עֲלֵ֣ה אַחֲרַ֔י כִּֽי־נְתָנָ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה בְּיַ֥ד יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
13Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer came behind and finished them off.
וַיַּ֣עַל יוֹנָתָ֗ן עַל־יָדָיו֙ וְעַל־רַגְלָ֔יו וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָ֖יו אַחֲרָ֑יו וַֽיִּפְּלוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יוֹנָתָ֔ן וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָ֖יו מְמוֹתֵ֥ת אַחֲרָֽיו׃
14In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men within an area of about half an acre.
וַתְּהִ֞י הַמַּכָּ֣ה הָרִאשֹׁנָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִכָּ֧ה יוֹנָתָ֛ן וְנֹשֵׂ֥א כֵלָ֖יו כְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים אִ֑ישׁ כְּבַחֲצִ֥י מַעֲנָ֖ה צֶ֥מֶד שָׂדֶֽה׃
15Then panic spread through the camp, the field, and all the troops. The outpost and the raiding parties trembled too; the earth shook, and it became a terror from God.
וַתְּהִי֩ חֲרָדָ֨ה בַמַּחֲנֶ֤ה בַשָּׂדֶה֙ וּבְכָל־הָעָ֔ם הַמַּצָּב֙ וְהַמַּשְׁחִ֔ית חָרְד֖וּ גַּם־הֵ֑מָּה וַתִּרְגַּ֣ז הָאָ֔רֶץ וַתְּהִ֖י לְחֶרְדַּ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים׃
Covenant of Friendship with David
After David's victory over Goliath, Jonathan and David were bound together in soul. Jonathan loved David as himself.
1When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan's soul was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
וַיְהִ֗י כְּכַלֹּתוֹ֙ לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וְנֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן נִקְשְׁרָ֖ה בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ דָּוִ֑ד *ויאהבו **וַיֶּאֱהָבֵ֥הוּ יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
3Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
וַיִּכְרֹ֧ת יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן וְדָוִ֖ד בְּרִ֑ית בְּאַהֲבָת֥וֹ אֹת֖וֹ כְּנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
4Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his armor, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
וַיִּתְפַּשֵּׁ֣ט יְהוֹנָתָ֗ן אֶֽת־הַמְּעִיל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלָ֔יו וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֖הוּ לְדָוִ֑ד וּמַדָּ֕יו וְעַד־חַרְבּ֥וֹ וְעַד־קַשְׁתּ֖וֹ וְעַד־חֲגֹרֽוֹ׃
The Defense of David
Jonathan warned David of his father's murder plans and pleaded David's case before Saul.
1Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, was very fond of David,
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר שָׁא֗וּל אֶל־יוֹנָתָ֤ן בְּנוֹ֙ וְאֶל־כָּל־עֲבָדָ֔יו לְהָמִ֖ית אֶת־דָּוִ֑ד וִיהֽוֹנָתָן֙ בֶּן־שָׁא֔וּל חָפֵ֥ץ בְּדָוִ֖ד מְאֹֽד׃
2so he warned him: "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; find a hiding place and stay out of sight.
וַיַּגֵּ֤ד יְהוֹנָתָן֙ לְדָוִ֣ד לֵאמֹ֔ר מְבַקֵּ֛שׁ שָׁא֥וּל אָבִ֖י לַהֲמִיתֶ֑ךָ וְעַתָּה֙ הִשָּֽׁמֶר־נָ֣א בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֥ בַסֵּ֖תֶר וְנַחְבֵּֽאתָ׃
4So Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul. He said to him, "Let the king not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. What he has done has been of great benefit to you.
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר יְהוֹנָתָ֤ן בְּדָוִד֙ ט֔וֹב אֶל־שָׁא֖וּל אָבִ֑יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵ֠לָיו אַל־יֶחֱטָ֨א הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ בְּעַבְדּ֣וֹ בְדָוִ֗ד כִּ֣י ל֤וֹא חָטָא֙ לָ֔ךְ וְכִ֥י מַעֲשָׂ֖יו טוֹב־לְךָ֥ מְאֹֽד׃
5He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and you rejoiced. Why then would you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?"
וַיָּשֶׂם֩ אֶת־נַפְשׁ֨וֹ בְכַפּ֜וֹ וַיַּ֣ךְ אֶת־הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֗י וַיַּ֨עַשׂ יְהוָ֜ה תְּשׁוּעָ֤ה גְדוֹלָה֙ לְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רָאִ֖יתָ וַתִּשְׂמָ֑ח וְלָ֤מָּה תֶֽחֱטָא֙ בְּדָ֣ם נָקִ֔י לְהָמִ֥ית אֶת־דָּוִ֖ד חִנָּֽם׃
6Saul listened to Jonathan and swore, "As the LORD lives, he will not be put to death."
וַיִּשְׁמַ֥ע שָׁא֖וּל בְּק֣וֹל יְהוֹנָתָ֑ן וַיִּשָּׁבַ֣ע שָׁא֔וּל חַי־יְהוָ֖ה אִם־יוּמָֽת׃
The Farewell at the Stone
Jonathan used the arrow signal to warn David that he must flee. They wept together and renewed their covenant.
35In the morning Jonathan went out to the field to meet David, and a young boy was with him.
וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וַיֵּצֵ֧א יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לְמוֹעֵ֣ד דָּוִ֑ד וְנַ֥עַר קָטֹ֖ן עִמּֽוֹ׃
37When the boy came to the place where Jonathan's arrow had fallen, Jonathan called after him, "Isn't the arrow beyond you?"
וַיָּבֹ֤א הַנַּ֙עַר֙ עַד־מְק֣וֹם הַחֵ֔צִי אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָרָ֖ה יְהוֹנָתָ֑ן וַיִּקְרָ֨א יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אַחֲרֵ֤י הַנַּ֙עַר֙ וַיֹּ֔אמֶר הֲל֥וֹא הַחֵ֖צִי מִמְּךָ֥ וָהָֽלְאָה׃
41When the boy had gone, David rose from his hiding place to the south, fell facedown on the ground, and bowed three times. Then they kissed each other and wept together—David wept the longest.
הַנַּעַר֮ בָּא֒ וְדָוִ֗ד קָ֚ם מֵאֵ֣צֶל הַנֶּ֔גֶב וַיִּפֹּ֨ל לְאַפָּ֥יו אַ֛רְצָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ שָׁלֹ֣שׁ פְּעָמִ֑ים וַֽיִּשְּׁק֣וּ ׀ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֗הוּ וַיִּבְכּוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֔הוּ עַד־דָּוִ֖ד הִגְדִּֽיל׃
42Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace. We have both sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD be between you and me, and between your descendants and mine, forever.'"
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֛ן לְדָוִ֖ד לֵ֣ךְ לְשָׁל֑וֹם אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁבַּ֨עְנוּ שְׁנֵ֜ינוּ אֲנַ֗חְנוּ בְּשֵׁ֤ם יְהוָה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהוָ֞ה יִֽהְיֶ֣ה ׀ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעִ֛י וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ פ
Death on Gilboa
Jonathan fell alongside his father and brothers in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. David mourned deeply for him.
2The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.
וַיַּדְבְּק֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אֶת־שָׁא֖וּל וְאֶת־בָּנָ֑יו וַיַּכּ֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים אֶת־יְהוֹנָתָ֧ן וְאֶת־אֲבִינָדָ֛ב וְאֶת־מַלְכִּי־שׁ֖וּעַ בְּנֵ֥י שָׁאֽוּל׃
6So Saul died that day, together with his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men.
וַיָּ֣מָת שָׁא֡וּל וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת בָּנָיו֩ וְנֹשֵׂ֨א כֵלָ֜יו גַּ֧ם כָּל־אֲנָשָׁ֛יו בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא יַחְדָּֽו׃
25How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
אֵ֚יךְ נָפְל֣וּ גִבֹּרִ֔ים בְּת֖וֹךְ הַמִּלְחָמָ֑ה יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן עַל־בָּמוֹתֶ֖יךָ חָלָֽל׃
26I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.
צַר־לִ֣י עָלֶ֗יךָ אָחִי֙ יְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ן נָעַ֥מְתָּ לִּ֖י מְאֹ֑ד נִפְלְאַ֤תָה אַהֲבָֽתְךָ֙ לִ֔י מֵאַהֲבַ֖ת נָשִֽׁים׃
Mentioned in the Bible (106)
Judges 18:301 Samuel 13:21 Samuel 13:31 Samuel 13:161 Samuel 13:221 Samuel 14:11 Samuel 14:31 Samuel 14:41 Samuel 14:61 Samuel 14:81 Samuel 14:121 Samuel 14:131 Samuel 14:141 Samuel 14:171 Samuel 14:211 Samuel 14:271 Samuel 14:291 Samuel 14:391 Samuel 14:401 Samuel 14:411 Samuel 14:421 Samuel 14:431 Samuel 14:441 Samuel 14:451 Samuel 14:491 Samuel 18:11 Samuel 18:31 Samuel 18:41 Samuel 19:11 Samuel 19:21 Samuel 19:41 Samuel 19:61 Samuel 19:71 Samuel 20:11 Samuel 20:31 Samuel 20:41 Samuel 20:51 Samuel 20:91 Samuel 20:101 Samuel 20:111 Samuel 20:121 Samuel 20:131 Samuel 20:161 Samuel 20:171 Samuel 20:181 Samuel 20:251 Samuel 20:271 Samuel 20:281 Samuel 20:301 Samuel 20:321 Samuel 20:331 Samuel 20:341 Samuel 20:351 Samuel 20:371 Samuel 20:381 Samuel 20:391 Samuel 20:421 Samuel 21:11 Samuel 23:161 Samuel 31:22 Samuel 1:42 Samuel 1:52 Samuel 1:122 Samuel 1:172 Samuel 1:222 Samuel 1:232 Samuel 1:252 Samuel 1:262 Samuel 4:42 Samuel 9:12 Samuel 9:32 Samuel 9:62 Samuel 9:72 Samuel 15:272 Samuel 15:362 Samuel 17:172 Samuel 17:202 Samuel 21:72 Samuel 21:122 Samuel 21:132 Samuel 21:142 Samuel 21:212 Samuel 23:321 Kings 1:421 Kings 1:431 Chronicles 2:321 Chronicles 2:331 Chronicles 8:331 Chronicles 8:341 Chronicles 9:391 Chronicles 9:401 Chronicles 10:21 Chronicles 11:341 Chronicles 20:71 Chronicles 27:251 Chronicles 27:322 Chronicles 17:8Ezra 8:6Ezra 10:15Nehemiah 12:11Nehemiah 12:14Nehemiah 12:18Nehemiah 12:35Jeremiah 37:15Jeremiah 37:20Jeremiah 40:8