Jonathan (1)
Peopleâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
Jonathan, a Levite from Bethlehem, entered the service of Micah as a hired priest and later established a hereditary priesthood in the city of Dan (formerly Laish), where he is identified in Judges 18:30 as a descendant of Manasseh.
What is the meaning of Jonathan (1) in the Bible?
Jonathan, a Levite from Bethlehem, entered the service of Micah as a hired priest and later established a hereditary priesthood in the city of Dan (formerly Laish), where he is identified in Judges 18:30 as a descendant of Manasseh.
SIGNIFICANCE
This account clarifies the fluidity of priestly roles in the pre-monarchic period, illustrating how non-Aaronite Levites could assume priestly functions and how tribal affiliations were sometimes reinterpreted to legitimize local cultic centers.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Jonathan (1) in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Jonathan (1) clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.