Jonathan. Son of Saul, and the bosom friend of David, who bewailed his untimely death in one of the most beautiful of his songs. Also, a son of Mattathias, and brother of Judas Maccabeus. He succeeded his brother Judas in the leadership of the Jews, and was made high-priest by Alexander Balas. After some vicissitudes of fortune, he renewed the league his brother had formed with the Romans, and was at last treacherously slain by Tryphon.

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