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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadGreater Men and Women of the Bible by James Hastings: 277. Jonathan
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Literature
Barton, G. A., The Roots of Christian Teaching as found in the Old Testament (1902), 156.
Fleming, J. D., Israel's Golden Age (1907), 37, 59.
Foakes-Jackson, F. J., The Biblical History of the Hebrews (1903), 153.
Greenhough, J. G., in Men of the Old Testament: Cain to David (1904), 273.
Greenhough, J. G., in Comradeship and Character (1903), 187.
Henson, H. H., Preaching to the Times (1902), 146.
Krummacher, F. W., David, the King of Israel, 52, 56, 72, 103.
MacArthur, R. S., Quick Truths in Quaint Texts, ii. (1907) 63.
McClure, J. G. K., Living for the Best (1903), 121.
Mackay, J., Jonathan, the Friend of David (1896).
Mackenzie, W. L., Pure Religion (1900), 63.
Maclaren, A., Expositions: Deuteronomy, etc. (1906), 354.
Matheson, G., The Representative Men of the Bible, ii. (1903) 172.
Meyer, F. B., David (1910), 48, 62, 134.
Meyer, F. B., Samuel, the Prophet, 116, 188.
Parker, J., The City Temple, i. (1872) 201.
Parker, J., The Ark of God (1877), 264.
Rawnsley, R. D. B., Village Sermons, iii. (1883) 139.
Rendall, G. H., Charterhouse Sermons (1911), 47.
Skrine, J. H., A Goodly Heritage (1896), 86.
Skrine, J. H., The Mountain Mother (1902), 17.
Spurgeon, C. H., Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, xxviii. (1882), No. 1694, xlviii. (1902), No. 2774.
Stanley, A. P., Lectures on the History of the Jewish Church, ii. (1889) 11, 48.
Stanley, A. P., Scripture Portraits (1867), 91.
Taylor, W. M., David, King of Israel (1894), 48.
Waller, C. H., The Names on the Gates of Pearl (1903), 257.
Webb-Peploe, H. W., The Life of Privilege (1896), 115.
Whitehead, H., Sermons (1871), 169.
Whitham, A. R., Old Testament History (1912), 206.
Whyte, A., Bible Characters, ii. (1898) 150.
Wright, D., The Power of an Endless Life (1897), 70.
Christian World Pulpit, lii. (1897) 278 (F. Hastings); lxxx. (1911) 35 (J. D. Jackson).
Dictionary of the Bible, ii. (1899) 753 (W. P. Paterson).
Very pleasant hast thou been unto me:
Thy love to me was wonderful,
Passing the love of women.- 2Sa_1:26.
Saul and his age were animated by a spirit whose home was earth, not heaven; yet they form the environment of one of the finest souls that have ever breathed-the man Jonathan. The story of his life, hastily viewed, seems almost incidental, but scholarly examination of it shows that its light and gladness are in marked contrast to the darkness and sorrow in the careers of Saul and David. The narratives in which he figures successively celebrate his martial exploits and his romantic friendship with David, and they portray a character which combines in a unique degree the heroism of the Hebrew patriot with the spirit of Christian virtue. He appears as a fine, generous, brave and chivalrous spirit, upright in his bearing towards all, gentle and beautiful in character. Such a prince would seem to have been born for a brilliant career, but the melancholy fortunes of the house of Saul involved him also in their ruin. There is an indefinable and inspiring charm in his attitude towards David, the story of which has done much to suggest and arouse the unselfish devotion of man to man.
Jonathan was a true knight of God, who anticipated some of the noblest traits of Christian chivalry. He lived pure, spoke true, righted wrong, was faithful to the high claims of human love, and followed the Christ, though as yet he knew Him not. He is the most chivalrous figure in the Old Testament, the flower and crown of Hebrew history, the knight without reproach. So far as we are informed, there was not a single crooked line or dark spot in his conduct. From first to last his life reads like some old romance, like one of Tennyson's sweetest idylls; and so long as beautiful souls are fairer in our eyes than wealth and honour, and the heroism which dies unrewarded more pathetic and not less lovely than that which wins earthly triumph, so long will the soul thrill with emotion, and the pulse beat faster, when such stories as his are told.