Jonathan son of Abiathar
With Abiathar and Zadok, Jonathan brings the ark to David as he flees Absalom, but David has them stay in the city to be his eyes and ears
When King David was fleeing Absalom, Abiathar and Zadok came to him with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant. They set down the ark until the people had all passed out of the city. King David told Zadok, "Are you not a seer? Go back to the city in peace, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me." So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark to Jerusalem and remained there. (2 Samuel 15:24-29)
Hushai sends word to David to flee Absalom
Hushai came to Zadok and Abiathar with a message for David: Ahithophel advised Absalom to let him take out only David with 12000 chosen men and to capture the rest, while Hushai advised for Absalom to personally lead all Israel to take out David and his men. Absalom and all the elders of Israel found Hushai's counsel better. Therefore, he wanted David to know, "Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up."
Jonathan and Ahimaaz waited at En-rogel, for they were not to be seen entering the city. A female servant was sent to tell them. A young man saw them and told Absalom. So both of them fled and came to the house of a man at Bahurim who had a well in his courtyard, and they hid in the well. The woman covered the well and scattered grain on it, so it was completely hidden. When Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house, she told them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” They couldn't find them and returned to Jerusalem, so the men came out of the well and went and told King David. David took the advice, and by daybreak, not one of his men had not passed the Jordan.
Jonathan son of Abiathar brought the news of Solomon's anointment to Adonijah at the end of his feast to celebrate setting himself up as king. (1 Kings 1:42-48)
Jonathan the son of Saul
Despite losing right to the throne to David, he was knit to the soul of David and strengthened his hand in the LORD. He died at his father's side.
Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother
It's uncertain whether Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, is the same person as Jonathan the son of Shimei or his brother.
- Meaning: "given by God."
- Tribe: Judah, Bethlehemite (1 Samuel 16:1)
- Father: Shimei (Shammah)
- Siblings: Jonadab, the son of Shimeah (2 Samuel 13:3) (Jonadab and Jonathan are so similar. Are they not siblings but the same person??)
- Uncle: King David
Four giant descendants slain
Late in King David's reign, there was a series of wars between the Philistines and Israel in which David and his servants fell four descended from the giants in Gath. The fourth was at Gath, where a man descended from the giants, who was of great stature and had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, taunted Israel. Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down.
Unsorted
David's mighty men were divided into the three and the thirty. Jonathan is one of the thirty. (2 Samuel 23:32)