1 Samuel 31:2 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

The Philistines slew Jonathan David's dear friend; God so ordering it for the further exercise of David's faith and patience; and that David might depend upon God alone for his crown, and receive it solely from him, and not from Jonathan; who, doubtless, had he lived, would have speedily settled the crown upon David's head. There was also a special providence of God in taking away Jonathan, (who, of all Saul's sons, seems to have been the fairest for the crown,) for preventing divisions, which might have happened among the people concerning the successor: David's way to the crown being by this means made the more clear. Abinadab Called also Ishui, 1 Samuel 14:49. Ish-bosheth was not here, being possibly at home for the management of affairs there. Thus the prediction of Samuel was fulfilled: but who can forbear dropping a tear over the faithful, the amiable, the excellent Jonathan? “There are few characters among men more lovely or more extraordinary than his: fortitude, fidelity, magnanimity! a soul susceptible of the most refined friendship, and superior to all the temptations of ambition and vanity! and all these crowned with the most resigned submission to the will of God.” Delaney.