THEOSISIsidore of Pelusium
I fear the consequences that Jonathan faced for failing to prevent his father from pursuing the sorceress. Because he had the opportunity to intervene, he met his end in combat before the one who committed the transgression.
1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 31:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And the Philistines fell upon Saul, and upon his sons, and they slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchisua, the sons of Saul.
וַיַּדְבְּק֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אֶת־שָׁא֖וּל וְאֶת־בָּנָ֑יו וַיַּכּ֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים אֶת־יְהוֹנָתָ֧ן וְאֶת־אֲבִינָדָ֛ב וְאֶת־מַלְכִּי־שׁ֖וּעַ בְּנֵ֥י שָׁאֽוּל׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Beda Venerabilis
The nations surrounding Judah launched an invasion aimed solely at annihilating the kingdom and wiping out its people. Consequently, they tainted his descendants with their corrupting influence: the priests, the scribes, and the Pharisees, representing the leaders, as well as the heretics. They prevented the Gentiles from proclaiming and honoring the grace of the Holy Spirit in genuine faith. This serves as a true reflection of the murder of Jonathan, which means ‘the gift of the dove.’ Furthermore, they obstructed the Gentiles from rightfully confessing the glory of the Father, who chose not to see us through the lens of our sinful nature, but rather embraced us out of His goodness.
Read more (131 words)
The death of Amminadab signifies this, as his name denotes ‘father in his own goodness.’ They also opposed the belief in the coming of salvation through the reign of Jesus Christ. The demise of Malchisua reflects this, for his name means ‘my King is salvation.’ I contend that the philosopher who led Arius astray is accountable for Malchisua's death. Additionally, the death of Jonathan rests on the one who troubled Pneumatomachus Macedonius. Likewise, he who was responsible for Aminadabus' death was the seducer of the Gnostic Mani. I emphasize this because the lord of defilement influenced Arius to reject the sovereign power of our King, Jesus Christ; he caused Macedonius to deny the divinity of the Holy Spirit; and he instigated Mani to blaspheme the goodness of our Most High Father.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- 1 Chr 8:33And Ner begot Cis and Cis begot Saul. And Saul begot Jonathan and Melchisua, and Abinadab, and Esbaal.
- 1 Sam 14:49And the sons of Saul, were Jonathan, and Jessui, and Melchisua: and the names of his two daughters, the name of the firstborn was Merob, and the name of the younger Michol.
- 1 Chr 9:39Now Ner begot Cis: and Cis begot Saul: and Saul begot Jonathan and Melchisua, and Abinadab, and Esbaal.
- 1 Sam 23:17Fear not: for the hand of my father, Saul, shall not find thee, and thou shalt reign over Israel, and I shall be next to thee; yea and my father knoweth this.
- 1 Sam 13:2And Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel: and two thousand were with Saul in Machmas, and in mount Bethel: and a thousand with Jonathan in Gabaa of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent back every man to their dwellings.
- Ex 20:5Thou shalt not adore them, nor serve them: I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me:
- 2 Sam 1:6And the young man that told him, said: I came by chance upon mount Gelboe, and Saul leaned upon his spear: and the chariots and horsemen drew nigh unto him,
- 1 Sam 14:1Now it came to pass one day that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man that bore his armour: Come, and let us go over to the garrison of the Philistines, which is on the other side of yonder place. But he told not this to his father.