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{{short description|Person in the Hebrew Bible}} |
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[[Image:NathanandDavid.JPG|thumb|200px|Nathan, on the right, with King David, by [[Matthias Scheits]]]] |
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{{for|a later prophet|Nathan of Gaza}} |
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[[File:Nathan.jpg|thumb|Russian icon of Nathan (first quarter of 18th century), Kizhi monastery]] |
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| ⚫ | '''Nathan''' ({{lang-he|נָתָן}} ''Nāṯān'', "Given"; [[Floruit|fl.]] {{c.|1000}} BC) is a [[Biblical prophet|prophet]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]]. His actions are described in the Books of [[Book of Samuel|Samuel]], [[Books of Kings|Kings]], and [[Books of Chronicles|Chronicles]] (especially {{Bibleverse|2|Samuel|7:2-17|HE}}, {{Bibleverse-nb|2|Samuel|12:1-25|HE}}). |
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:''For other biblical people with this name, see [[Nathan (given name)]].'' |
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| ⚫ | Nathan was a court [[prophet]] in the time of [[King David]]. He is introduced in {{Bibleverse|2|Samuel|7:2|HE}} and {{Bibleverse|1|Chronicles|17:1|HE}} as an advisor to David, with whom David reflects on the contrast between his own comfortable home and the tent in which the [[Ark of the Covenant]] is accommodated. Nathan then announces to David the [[Covenant (biblical)#Davidic covenant|covenant]] God was making with him ({{bibleverse|2|Samuel|7:4-17|NKJV}}, a passage known as ''Nathan's Oracle''),<ref>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/27821018.pdf The Composition of Nathan's Oracle to David (2 Samuel 7:1-17) as a Reflection of Royal Judahite Ideology], ''Journal of Biblical Literature'', Vol. 129, No. 2 (Summer 2010), pp. 261-279, accessed 15 July 2017</ref> contrasting David's proposal to build a house (i.e. a building) for the Ark with God's plan to build a house (i.e. a [[Davidic line|dynasty]]) for David. Later, he comes to David to reprimand him for committing [[adultery]] with [[Bathsheba]] while she was the wife of [[Uriah the Hittite]], whose death the King had also arranged to hide his previous transgression ({{Bibleverse|2|Samuel|12:7-14|ESV}}).<ref> Holman Bible Editorial Staff, ''Holman Concise Bible Dictionary'', B&H Publishing Group, USA, 2011, p. 446</ref> |
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'''Nathan''' ({{lang-he|נָתַן}} ''Nāṯan''; {{lang-syr|ܢܬܢ}} [[Floruit|fl.]] c. 1000 BC) is a [[Biblical prophet|prophet]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]]. |
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In {{Bibleverse|1|Kings|1:8-45|HE}} it is Nathan who tells the dying David of the plot of [[Adonijah]] to become king, resulting in [[King Solomon|Solomon]] being proclaimed king instead.<ref> J. D. Douglas, Merrill C. Tenney, ''Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary'', Zondervan Academic, USA, 2011, p. 998 </ref> Nathan presides at the anointing of King Solomon. The [[Midrash]] teaches that two honorary seats flanked the throne of King Solomon, one for Nathan and the other for [[Gad the Seer]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nathan the Prophet - Jewish History |url=https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/4397291/jewish/Nathan-the-Prophet.htm |access-date=March 14, 2022}}</ref> |
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A lost [[Book of Nathan the Prophet]] is mentioned in 1 and 2 Chronicles. Although the work appears to have been lost, some speculate that some of its content have been incorporated into the books of Samuel or Kings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Was Nathan the Prophet So Important to King David? |url=https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-was-nathan-the-prophet-so-important-to-king-david.html |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=biblestudytools.com |language=en}}</ref> The 15th century Jewish scholar, [[Isaac Abarbanel]], proposed that Samuel started his book, but Nathan completed the work.<ref>Haas, Jair. “Isaac Abarbanel’s Defense of the Authority, Reliability and Coherence of Biblical Historiography.” ''Hebrew Union College Annual'', vol. 82–83, 2012, pp. 212f. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.15650/hebruniocollannu.82-83.203 JSTOR website]. Retrieved 2 Oct. 2023.</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Nathan was a court [[prophet]] |
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David had promised the succession to Solomon, his son by Bath-sheba. Nathan advises Bath-sheba to remonstrate with the king against the pretensions of Adonijah, promising to give timely confirmation to her words. The plan succeeds, and, by order of David, Nathan and Zadok the priest proclaim and anoint Solomon the successor to the throne (I Kings i. 5-39). |
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In addition to these passages, Nathan is mentioned in (1) II Sam. xii. 25, as giving to Solomon the name of Jedidiah ("friend of God"); (2) Ps. li. (in the title); (3) I Chron. xvii. 2-15, which is a repetition of II Sam. vii.; (4) I Chron. xxix. 29; and (5) II Chron. ix. 29. In the last two passages Nathan is named as the historian of the reigns of David and Solomon. He is not mentioned in Chronicles in connection with the Bath-sheba episode or with the anointment of Solomon. A grave at Halhul, near Hebron, is pointed out as that of Nathan, but this is doubtful. Two sons of Nathan, Azariah and Zabud, are mentioned as princes and officers under Solomon (I Kings iv. 5). |
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In {{Bibleverse|1|Kings|1:8-45|HE}} it is Nathan who tells the dying David of the plot of [[Adonijah]] to become king, resulting in [[King Solomon|Solomon]] being proclaimed king instead. Nathan presides at the anointing of King Solomon, and his name appears in [[George_Frideric_Handel|Handel's]] coronation anthem "[[Zadok the Priest]]". |
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About Nathan the Rabbis are all silent, saving in but one passage, in which R. Judah remarks that the "threefold cord that is not easily broken" was the joint effort of Bath-sheba, David, and Nathan to save the throne for Solomon against Adonijah (Eccl. R. iv. 12). An echo of Nathan's parable of the rich man with many flocks and the poor man with but one lamb is found in Mohammedan tradition (Koran, sura xxxviii. 20-25).<ref>[https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11343-nathan Jewish encyclopedia Nathan] {{PD-notice}}</ref> |
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==Feast day== |
==Feast day== |
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{{unreferenced section|date=May 2021}} |
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In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], and those [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] which follow the [[Byzantine Rite]], he is commemorated as a [[saint]] on the Sunday of the [[Holy Fathers]] (i.e., the Sunday before the [[Great Feast]] of the [[Christmas|Nativity of the Lord]]). According to the [[Orthodox Church in America]] website,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Prophet Nathan |url=https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2008/12/14/608-prophet-nathan |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=www.oca.org}}</ref> the Prophet Nathan is commemorated on December 14. |
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==As a name== |
==As a name== |
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{{see| Nathan (given name)}} |
{{see| Nathan (given name)}} |
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Derived from this biblical character, "Nathan" is |
Derived from this biblical character, "Nathan" is used as a male first name in various languages. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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*[[Book of Nathan the Prophet]] and [[History of Nathan the Prophet]] |
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==External links== |
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*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=81 Sunday of the Holy Fathers] Orthodox [[synaxarion]] |
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{{Prophets of the Tanakh}} |
{{Prophets of the Tanakh}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Nathan}} |
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[[Category:10th-century BCE Hebrew people]] |
[[Category:10th-century BCE Hebrew people]] |
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[[Category:11th-century BCE Hebrew people]] |
[[Category:11th-century BCE Hebrew people]] |
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[[Category:Bathsheba]] |
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[[Category:Books of Samuel]] |
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[[Category:Christian saints from the Old Testament]] |
[[Category:Christian saints from the Old Testament]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:People from the Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)]] |
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[[Category:10th-century BC religious leaders]] |
[[Category:10th-century BC religious leaders]] |
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Revision as of 18:22, 18 May 2024
Nathan (Hebrew: נָתָן Nāṯān, "Given"; fl. c. 1000 BC) is a prophet in the Hebrew Bible. His actions are described in the Books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles (especially 2 Samuel 7:2–17, 12:1–25).
Biblical accounts
Nathan was a court prophet in the time of King David. He is introduced in 2 Samuel 7:2 and 1 Chronicles 17:1 as an advisor to David, with whom David reflects on the contrast between his own comfortable home and the tent in which the Ark of the Covenant is accommodated. Nathan then announces to David the covenant God was making with him (2 Samuel 7:4–17, a passage known as Nathan's Oracle),[1] contrasting David's proposal to build a house (i.e. a building) for the Ark with God's plan to build a house (i.e. a dynasty) for David. Later, he comes to David to reprimand him for committing adultery with Bathsheba while she was the wife of Uriah the Hittite, whose death the King had also arranged to hide his previous transgression (2 Samuel 12:7–14).[2]
According to Chronicles, Nathan wrote histories of the reigns of both David (1 Chronicles 29:29) and Solomon (2 Chronicles 9:29), and was involved in the music of the temple (see 2 Chronicles 29:25).
In 1 Kings 1:8–45 it is Nathan who tells the dying David of the plot of Adonijah to become king, resulting in Solomon being proclaimed king instead.[3] Nathan presides at the anointing of King Solomon. The Midrash teaches that two honorary seats flanked the throne of King Solomon, one for Nathan and the other for Gad the Seer.[4]
A lost Book of Nathan the Prophet is mentioned in 1 and 2 Chronicles. Although the work appears to have been lost, some speculate that some of its content have been incorporated into the books of Samuel or Kings.[5] The 15th century Jewish scholar, Isaac Abarbanel, proposed that Samuel started his book, but Nathan completed the work.[6]
David had promised the succession to Solomon, his son by Bath-sheba. Nathan advises Bath-sheba to remonstrate with the king against the pretensions of Adonijah, promising to give timely confirmation to her words. The plan succeeds, and, by order of David, Nathan and Zadok the priest proclaim and anoint Solomon the successor to the throne (I Kings i. 5-39).
In addition to these passages, Nathan is mentioned in (1) II Sam. xii. 25, as giving to Solomon the name of Jedidiah ("friend of God"); (2) Ps. li. (in the title); (3) I Chron. xvii. 2-15, which is a repetition of II Sam. vii.; (4) I Chron. xxix. 29; and (5) II Chron. ix. 29. In the last two passages Nathan is named as the historian of the reigns of David and Solomon. He is not mentioned in Chronicles in connection with the Bath-sheba episode or with the anointment of Solomon. A grave at Halhul, near Hebron, is pointed out as that of Nathan, but this is doubtful. Two sons of Nathan, Azariah and Zabud, are mentioned as princes and officers under Solomon (I Kings iv. 5).
About Nathan the Rabbis are all silent, saving in but one passage, in which R. Judah remarks that the "threefold cord that is not easily broken" was the joint effort of Bath-sheba, David, and Nathan to save the throne for Solomon against Adonijah (Eccl. R. iv. 12). An echo of Nathan's parable of the rich man with many flocks and the poor man with but one lamb is found in Mohammedan tradition (Koran, sura xxxviii. 20-25).[7]
Feast day
 |
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, and those Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite, he is commemorated as a saint on the Sunday of the Holy Fathers (i.e., the Sunday before the Great Feast of the Nativity of the Lord). According to the Orthodox Church in America website,[8] the Prophet Nathan is commemorated on December 14.
As a name
Derived from this biblical character, "Nathan" is used as a male first name in various languages.
See also
References
- ^ The Composition of Nathan's Oracle to David (2 Samuel 7:1-17) as a Reflection of Royal Judahite Ideology, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 129, No. 2 (Summer 2010), pp. 261-279, accessed 15 July 2017
- ^ Holman Bible Editorial Staff, Holman Concise Bible Dictionary, B&H Publishing Group, USA, 2011, p. 446
- ^ J. D. Douglas, Merrill C. Tenney, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Zondervan Academic, USA, 2011, p. 998
- ^ "Nathan the Prophet - Jewish History". Retrieved March 14, 2022.
- ^ "Why Was Nathan the Prophet So Important to King David?". biblestudytools.com. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
- ^ Haas, Jair. “Isaac Abarbanel’s Defense of the Authority, Reliability and Coherence of Biblical Historiography.” Hebrew Union College Annual, vol. 82–83, 2012, pp. 212f. JSTOR website. Retrieved 2 Oct. 2023.
- ^ Jewish encyclopedia Nathan
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Prophet Nathan". www.oca.org. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
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