Jonathan

Jonathan was the eldest son of King Saul and the closest friend of David, whose relationship with him is one of the Bible's most celebrated depictions of loyal friendship. Despite being the crown prince and natural rival to David's ascendancy, Jonathan 'loved him as he loved his own soul' (1 Samuel 18:3) and repeatedly risked his life to protect David from Saul's murderous jealousy (1 Samuel 19–20). He and David renewed their covenant of friendship at their final meeting, commending David's future to God (1 Samuel 23:16–18). Jonathan died alongside his father and brothers in the battle of Mount Gilboa against the Philistines (1 Samuel 31), and David's lament over him—'Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women' (2 Samuel 1:26)—is among the most moving elegies in Scripture.