Jonathan Summary
STEPBible TIPNR
Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, served as a messenger and informant for David during Absalom's rebellion.
son of Abiathar the priest (2SA 15:27)
Lineage: God › Adam › Seth › Enos › Cainan › Mahalaleel › Jared › Enoch › Methuselah › Lamech › Noah › Shem › Arphaxad › Cainan › Salah › Eber › Peleg › Reu › Serug › Nahor › Terah › Abraham › Isaac › Jacob › Levi › Kohath › Amram › Aaron › Ithamar › Unnamed#1 › Unnamed#2 › Unnamed#3 › Unnamed#4 › Eli › Phinehas › Ahitub › Ahimelech › Abiathar › Jonathan
Names
-
en
Jonathan
given of God
-
en
Jonathan
· Also called · H3083 none · 2SA 15:27 gift of y-h-v-h
- en Jehonathan · Also called
-
he
יְהוֹנָתָן
yəhonatan · H3083 · 2SA 15:27 gift of y-h-v-h
- he יוֹנָתָן · H3129O
- el Ιωναθαν Iōnathan · none · 2SA 15:27
- bg Йонатан
Mentioned in (6)
SDA Books
Awaiting permission to publishLinked through an explicitly cited Bible passage
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Conditional birth estimate
Conditional birth bounds under generation assumptions; not attested parental ages, biological limits or a lifespan.
The anchors give incompatible conditional intervals. This calculation establishes no birth year.
Below are relatives with a selected birth year, the generations separating them, and the interval allowed by each anchor. Each relative’s page shows available dates and sources. The overall estimate uses the intersection of the allowed intervals.
| Relative / anchor year | Generations | Conditional interval |
|---|---|---|
| Eli · 1167 BC Ancestor |
5 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1067 BC – 942 BC |
| Aaron · 1573 BC Ancestor |
11 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1353 BC – 1078 BC |
| Amram · 1688 BC Ancestor |
12 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1448 BC – 1148 BC |
| Kohath · 1705 BC Ancestor |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1445 BC – 1120 BC |
| Levi · 1748 BC Ancestor |
13 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1488 BC – 1163 BC |
| Jacob · 1835 BC Ancestor |
14 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1555 BC – 1205 BC |
| Isaac · 1895 BC Ancestor |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1595 BC – 1220 BC |
| Rebekah · 1876 BC Ancestor |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1576 BC – 1201 BC |
| Pharez · 1722 BC Ancestor |
15 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1422 BC – 1047 BC |
| Abraham · 1995 BC Ancestor |
16 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1675 BC – 1275 BC |
| Sarah · 1985 BC Ancestor |
16 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1665 BC – 1265 BC |
| Terah · 2125 BC Ancestor |
17 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1700 BC – AD 86 |
| Nahor · 2156 BC Ancestor |
18 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1706 BC – AD 185 |
| Haran · 2056 BC Ancestor |
18 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1606 BC – AD 285 |
| Serug · 2186 BC Ancestor |
19 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1711 BC – AD 285 |
| Reu · 2218 BC Ancestor |
20 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1718 BC – AD 383 |
| Peleg · 2248 BC Ancestor |
21 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1723 BC – AD 483 |
| Eber · 2282 BC Ancestor |
22 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1732 BC – AD 579 |
| Salah · 2312 BC Ancestor |
23 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1737 BC – AD 679 |
| Arphaxad · 2347 BC Ancestor |
25 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1722 BC – AD 904 |
| Shem · 2447 BC Ancestor |
26 25–130 years per generation |
c. 1797 BC – AD 934 |
| Noah · 2948 BC Ancestor |
27 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2273 BC – AD 563 |
| Lamech · 3130 BC Ancestor |
28 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2430 BC – AD 511 |
| Methuselah · 3317 BC Ancestor |
29 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2592 BC – AD 454 |
| Enoch · 3382 BC Ancestor |
30 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2632 BC – AD 519 |
| Jared · 3544 BC Ancestor |
31 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2769 BC – AD 487 |
| Mahalaleel · 3609 BC Ancestor |
32 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2809 BC – AD 552 |
| Cainan · 3679 BC Ancestor |
33 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2854 BC – AD 612 |
| Cain · 4004 BC Ancestor |
33 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3179 BC – AD 287 |
| Enos · 3769 BC Ancestor |
34 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2919 BC – AD 652 |
| Adam · 4004 BC Ancestor |
34 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3154 BC – AD 417 |
| Eve · 4005 BC Ancestor |
34 25–130 years per generation |
c. 3155 BC – AD 416 |
| Seth · 3874 BC Ancestor |
35 25–130 years per generation |
c. 2999 BC – AD 677 |
Jonathan Article
STEPBible TIPNR
Jonathan, the son of Abiathar the priest, appears in the biblical narrative during the reign of King David. He served as a messenger and informant alongside Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, during the time of Absalom's rebellion against David (2Sa.15.27,36).
When David was forced to flee Jerusalem due to Absalom's coup, he instructed Jonathan and Ahimaaz to remain in the city and send word to him about any developments (2Sa 15:27-29). The two young men stayed near En-rogel, outside the city, to avoid detection (2Sa 17:17). A servant girl would relay messages to them, which they would then deliver to David (2Sa 17:17).
When Absalom's men came searching for Jonathan and Ahimaaz, a woman hid them in a well and covered it, misleading the pursuers (2Sa 17:18-20). The two then escaped and informed David of Ahithophel's advice to Absalom (2Sa 17:21).
Later, during the tensions surrounding Solomon's succession to the throne, Jonathan brought news to Adonijah and his supporters that Solomon had been anointed king (1Ki 1:42-48). This report led to the disbanding of Adonijah's faction.
Jonathan's role as a messenger and informant highlights the importance of loyalty and communication during times of political upheaval. His service to David, along with that of Ahimaaz, was crucial in helping the king navigate the challenges posed by Absalom's rebellion and the uncertainties of the royal succession.
Jonathan 3 Dictionary
Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Son of the high priest Abiathar, and one who adhered to David at the time of Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam. 15:27, 36). He is the last descendant of Eli of whom there is any record.
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Jonathan_3) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Jonathan@2Sa.15.27-1Ki) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, jonathan_1693)