Bible Figure
Jonathan
figure appearing in the account of Micah's Idol in the Book of Judges
Jonathan was a Levite associated with the unauthorized shrine established by Micah and later taken over by the tribe of Dan.
Biography
Judges 17-18 describes a young Levite from Bethlehem who became priest for Micah's household shrine and then accepted the Danites' offer to serve as priest for an entire tribe. Judges 18:30 identifies him as Jonathan son of Gershom, son or descendant of Moses in the usual textual reading, though some manuscript traditions obscure the name. He and his descendants served at the Danite shrine.
Biblical Significance
Jonathan's story illustrates the religious disorder summarized by Judges' repeated observation that everyone did what was right in his own eyes. His Levitical status did not make the unauthorized worship legitimate.