JONATHAN (Heb. Yônāthān, "Yahweh Has Given"). - Eldest son of Saul (v.), one of the most heroic and attractive figures of the Bible. He was perhaps 20 years old when he appears at his father's side, who had probably been reigning for 15 years. They wished to shake off the Philistine yoke, and it was J. who, by killing a garrison commander, gave the signal for the revolt (I Sam. 13). Immediately afterward he defeated, alone with his armor-bearer, another Philistine garrison, climbing up impossible cliffs: an exploit that led to a lightning-like Israelite victory (I Sam. 14). Slightly older than David, as soon as he met him after the duel with Goliath (v.) "he loved him as his own soul." And even when he learned that David, not he, was to be king of Israel, he continued to love him and to defend him from his father, although he thereby drew upon himself his father's wrath and insults (I Sam. 18-20; 23, 15-18). He died as a brave man, at Saul's side, on the mountains of Gilboa, fighting against the Philistines.
David bewailed, in a famous lament, "the bow of J., which never turned back," his anguish for his "brother J." who was "so dear" to him, whose love he prized "more than the love of women" (II Sam. 1, 19-27). At his death J. left a little son of 5 years, Mephibosheth (v.), whom David, in memory of his friend, would later make his perpetual table companion (II Sam. 9).
Other biblical figures: v. JONATHAN.