JONATHAN (Heb. Yehoïnathan, or Yônathan; Vulgate
I. and Ionathas)
Name of various figures in Israel in the Old Testament.I. A Levite, descendant of Moses (Judg. 18:30); he lived as a gêr ("sojourner") in the tribe of Judah. He moved to Ephraim to serve in the domestic sanctuary of Micah, where he consulted the ephod; then, willingly, he followed the 600 Danites who went to settle in Laish-Dan and stole from Micah the objects of the sanctuary (Judg. 17–19).
After the discoveries at Elephantine, many critics believe that Johanan should be inserted into the text as the father of 1. 14–15. Two heads of priestly lineage (Neh. 12:14, 18). 16. A Levite of the lineage of Asaph (Neh. 12:35).
18. The youngest of the Maccabean brothers, called Apphus (1 Macc. 2:5); he took command after the death of Judas (161–143 BC). He continued guerrilla warfare against Bacchides, eventually securing a peace treaty. With great shrewdness, he exploited the conflict between Alexander and Demetrius Soter to his advantage. He defeated Apollonius, general of Demetrius Nicator, son of the former; but when Nicator obtained the throne, Jonathan succeeded in winning him over. He renewed the alliance with the Romans. He then sided with the young Antiochus VI, supported by the general Trypho, obtaining for himself the high priesthood. But Trypho, who aspired to the throne, treacherously took him prisoner and killed him (1 Macc. 9:23–13:23). Another Jonathan was sent by Simon Maccabeus to occupy Joppa (ibid., 13:11); he may be the same warrior noted at Asor (ibid., 11:70), or one of his brothers.