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Jonah, Book ofAid to Bible Understanding
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III. Jehovah appoints great fish to swallow Jonah, who remains in its inward parts three days and three nights (1:17)
A. Inside fish, Jonah, in prayer, requests Jehovah’s help, describes experience and promises to pay what he has vowed (2:1-9)
B. Fish vomits Jonah out onto dry land (2:10)
IV. Jehovah again tells Jonah to go to Nineveh (3:1, 2)
A. Jonah obeys; proclaims Nineveh’s overthrow due in forty days (3:3, 4)
B. Ninevites repent; king puts on sackcloth and enjoins fasting on men and domestic animals (3:5-9)
V. Because Jehovah does not destroy Nineveh, Jonah displeased and requests death (3:10–4:3)
A. Jehovah asks Jonah whether anger justified (4:4)
B. Prophet leaves city and, later, erects booth, to observe what might befall Nineveh (4:5)
C. Jehovah teaches Jonah lesson of mercy by means of bottle-gourd plant (4:6-11)
See the book “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,” pp. 153-155.
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JonamAid to Bible Understanding
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JONAM
(Joʹnam).
An ancestor of Jesus’ mother Mary. Jonam was a descendant of David through Nathan and perhaps lived around the time of King Asa.—Luke 3:23, 30, 31.
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JonathanAid to Bible Understanding
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JONATHAN
(Jonʹa·than) [Jehovah has given].
An English rendering of two Hebrew names, Yoh·na·thanʹ and the longer form Yehoh·na·thanʹ.—See JEHONATHAN.
1. A Levite who served as priest in connection with false worship at the house of Micah in Ephraim and later with the Danites. The account in Judges chapters 17 and 18 repeatedly refers to a young Levite who, at Judges 18:30, is called “Jonathan the son of Gershom, Moses’ son.” That he was earlier described as “of the family of Judah” may refer simply to the fact that he resided in Bethlehem in the territory of Judah.
Wandering Jonathan eventually came to the home of Micah in the mountains of Ephraim. Micah had set up a carved image in his home. Jonathan agreed to serve as priest for the household even though he was not of the family of Aaron and an image was being used in worship. Later five Danites seeking a place for a section of the tribe to settle met Jonathan. They asked him to inquire of God as to whether they would be successful, and he gave them a favorable response in the name of Jehovah.
When the main body of six hundred Danite men, as well as their families and livestock, passed by Micah’s house on their way N, they took the objects of worship including the carved image. They also induced selfish Jonathan to throw in his lot with them, to become their priest and not just priest for a family. (Judg. 17:7–18:21) Jonathan “and his sons became priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the land’s being taken into exile.” (Judg. 18:30) Some commentators have applied this to a conquest of the district, such as by Tiglath-pileser III, or all of the northern tribes by Shalmaneser V. (2 Ki. 15:29; 17:6) However, since Samuel evidently wrote Judges, an earlier application must be intended. Judges 18:31 mentions that the Danites kept the carved image “set up for themselves all the days that the house of the true God continued in Shiloh.” This suggests a time period for the application of the preceding verse, and it strengthens the view that Jonathan’s family served as priests until the Ark was captured by the Philistines. It has been contended that verse thirty should read, ‘until the day of the ark’s being taken into exile.’ (1 Sam. 4:11, 22) But this conclusion about the duration of the priesthood of Jonathan’s family may be correct even without altering the reading, for verse thirty may be taking the view that the land, in a sense, was carried into exile when the Ark was captured.
2. Eldest and favorite son of Benjamite King Saul, evidently by Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. (1 Sam. 14:49, 50) Jonathan is chiefly noted for his unselfish friendship for and support of David as Jehovah’s king-designate.
Jonathan is first mentioned in the early years of Saul’s reign as a valiant commander of a thousand warriors. (1 Sam. 13:2) He thus would probably be at least twenty then and hence at least approaching sixty when he died in 1077 B.C.E. (Num. 1:3) David was thirty at the time of Jonathan’s death. (1 Sam. 31:2; 2 Sam. 5:4) Hence, during their friendship Jonathan was evidently some thirty years David’s senior. Jonathan’s being a grown young man when Saul became king might help to explain his temperament and outlook. During his formative years he well may have been influenced by his father who, up to the time of being chosen as king, displayed modesty, obedience and a respect for Jehovah and his arrangements.—1 Sam. 9:7, 21, 26; 10:21, 22.
In the opening notice of Jonathan, he courageously and successfully led a thousand poorly armed men against the Philistine garrison at Geba. In response the enemy collected at Michmash. Secretly Jonathan and his armor-bearer left Saul and his men and approached the enemy outpost. By this act alone Jonathan displayed his valor, ability to inspire confidence in others and yet his recognition of Jehovah’s leading, for his actions depended on a sign from God. The two bold fighters single-handedly struck down about twenty Philistines, which led to a full-scale battle and victory for Israel. (1 Sam. 13:3–14:23) As the fighting was proceeding Saul rashly swore a curse on anyone eating before the battle ended. Jonathan was unaware of this and he ate some wild honey. Later, when confronted by Saul, Jonathan did not shrink back from dying for having partaken of the honey. Yet he was redeemed by the people, who recognized that God was with him that day.—1 Sam. 14:24-45.
These exploits clearly prove that Jonathan was a courageous, capable and manly warrior. He and Saul well deserved being described as “swifter than the eagles” and “mightier than the lions.” (2 Sam. 1:23) He was skilled as an archer. (2 Sam. 1:22; 1 Sam. 20:20) His manly qualities may have especially endeared him to Saul. It is apparent that they were very close. (1 Sam. 20:2) This did not, though, overshadow Jonathan’s zeal for God and loyalty to his friend David.
David had been introduced into the king’s court to play music for Saul, since Jehovah’s spirit had departed from the king and been replaced by a bad spirit, something Jonathan may have noted. Though young, David was “a valiant, mighty man and a man of war,” and Saul “got to loving him very much, and he came to be his armor-bearer.”—1 Sam. 16:14-23.
Jonathan’s particular friendship with David dates from soon after he killed Goliath. That fearless act in defense of Jehovah’s people must have particularly moved Jonathan. Hearing David’s account of it, “Jonathan’s very soul became bound up with the soul of David, and Jonathan began to love him as his own soul.” (1 Sam. 18:1) The two courageous warriors and devoted servants of God “proceeded to conclude a covenant” of friendship. Jonathan could see that David had God’s spirit. (1 Sam. 18:3) He did not jealously view him as a rival, as did Saul. Instead, his respect for God’s way of handling matters was a fine example for his younger friend. He did not act on Saul’s desire to kill David, but, rather, warned him and tried to intercede. When David was forced to flee, Jonathan met him and made a covenant to the effect that David would protect him and his household.—1 Sam. 19:1–20:17.
Jonathan again spoke to Saul about David, which nearly cost him his life, for in a fit of rage Saul hurled a spear at his own son. According to arrangement
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