“Saul said, ‘Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.’ And Jonathan was taken. Then Saul said to Jonathan, ‘Tell me what you have done.’ So Jonathan told him and said, ‘I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!'” (1 Sam 14:42-43).
Jonathan’s unknowing violation of Saul’s command not to eat on the day of battle (vv. 24, 27), Saul’s unsuccessful military campaign (vv. 36-40) and search for the culprit by the casting of lots (vv. 41-42), the taking of Jonathan (v. 42), and Saul’s interrogation of his son,”Tell me what you have done” (v.43) ought to look familiar. It is the story Achan, but retold to us in the reflection of a mirror. “Then Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, I implore you, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give praise to Him; and tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.’ So Achan answered Joshua and said, ‘Truly, I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did'” (Josh 7:19-20).
In this story, Jonathan is the hero and the caster of lots, Saul, is the “unhero.” In the previous story, Achan the “unhero” had knowingly violated the LORD’s command, and Joshua the hero found him out by the casting of lots. Although Jonathan is taken by lot and willing to die as a martyr for the sake of his people, Saul relents from putting him to death. Joshua, however, takes the guilty Achan and puts him to death for the sake of Israel.
In the light of this inverse parallelism, it is Jonathan’s actions for the sake of Israel that make him like Joshua; and Saul’s actions against Israel which make him just like Achan. The author describes Jonathan as a new Joshua, who loves his people, and willingly takes on the role of a suffering servant. Although Saul has the crown, Jonathan is the one is acts far more worthy of the throne. Jonathan acts like the kind of king we all long for. And so, by reading about Jonathan, we see Yeshua, the hero of heroes, the suffering servant who died the death we all deserve and is coming again to sit on David’s throne.
“Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they began to come up to Him and say, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ and to give Him slaps in the face. Pilate came out again and said to them, ‘Behold, I am bringing Him out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt in Him.’ Jesus then came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, ‘Behold, the Man!'” (John 19:1-5).
