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It was years ago that I heard a particularly poignant segment of the Hebrew Scripture chanted in the synagogue—the story, in the Book of Samuel—of the powerful boyhood friendship between Jonathan and David. Jonathan was the emotional son of King Saul; David, the future king, was his companion and fast friend. Their bond, described without restraint in the Bible, was robust: Jonathan declares to David: “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.”
It’s hard to let pass the unfolding passionate relationship between these two young scriptural heroes. The romantic tension they shared was reinforced by the fierce and jealous hostility felt by King Saul against David; the paranoid monarch once even threw a spear at the lad. Jonathan so adored David that he eschewed his role as prince and gave his heart freely to his friend. His father’s disapproval did not repress his loyalty and devotion to his amour.
Granted, there are edicts in the earlier Book of Leviticus forbidding homosexual love; this is what makes the Jonathan-David affair so remarkable. Here is an intense saga of love, rivalry, and Oedipal complexes all being driven by the force of homosexual tenderness. There are deep implications of Jonathan feeling “empty” when David’s chair was vacant.
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The Bible does not exactly mince words about the whole thing. In First Samuel, Chapter 20, it describes an outdoor rendezvous between the two boys: “David arose out of the place…and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times; and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.”
Until David “exceeded?” This is interpreted by some biblical critics as an explanation of David’s expressive weeping—that is, he ran out of tears. However, the literal translation of the Hebrew is, unequivocally, “until David enlarged.” One can have no illusions what the Bible is describing in this particular instance.
David went on to an illustrious career as king, psalmist, and empire builder. Christians and Jews alike ascribe messianic aspects to his life and person. He certainly came to love many women as a grown man, but the Bible is broad enough to include his youthful gay dalliance within his biography. Does this mean that the Bible specifically endorses homosexuality? I think that what it means is that Scripture recognizes many attitudes and that this story should teach us not to be homophobic.
Jonathan’s rather sad life ended early and violently—on the battlefield. It was the lyrical and heartbroken David who wrote the eulogy, adding the following stanza for his fallen lover:
O, Jonathan, slain upon the high places,
I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan;
Very pleasant hast thou been unto me:
Thy love to me was wonderful,
Passing the love of women.
Comments
OK, wait a sec! Is it possible, just for a second, that maybe you'er wrong?? I can assure you that David was NOT a Gay man. LOL! First of all, yes, i know that King David and Jonathan had a very special relationship. And in describing their relationship the word Love is used a lot and it seems to be very affectionate, and it was. But, in order to UNDERSTAND what was going on between them you first have to understand that there friendship was based soley on a Covanant. See, in our western minds,99.9 percent of us don't have a clue, not a clue, as to what a Covanant means. Not like they did in those days. David and jonathan were (and still are) in a Covanant relationship. Not a marriage! OMG! Example: I had a friend . I love him very, very much. I would die for him. We are realy, in a sense, in a Covanant relationship with each other...to protect each other. But that doesnt mean i would sleep with him. Thats an example of the relationship between King David and Jonathan, see? But, i can see why somebody would want to justify homosexuality in the bible. I mean, if God says its OK then it MUST be OK. Right?
I actually knew David and Jon, and they were both totally gay (I'm REALLY old). David just used the women for position and for heirs.
Please remove my name from your email list. This article is blasphemy. It makes my heart cry!!!!!!!!!!Michale Orrell
Boring, zzzzz.
You make the Bible live; these were real people, doing what real people do. I have understood, as well, that the New Testament's St. Paul was also a homosexual man. I'm sure that possibility would seriously upset some Christians, but I find it refreshing, to think that spirituality can come in all shapes and sizes and preferences. One need not be a straight man or woman to be connected spiritually to the Godhead. How liberating for all of us. Thank you for this story; David has always been one of my favorite Biblical characters, and I avidly view artworks including him as well. A brave but gentle person, it would seem.
I believe in going straight to the source. So, I read 1 Samuel 20:41 and surrounding scriptures. The key word here that you are using to prove that David was homosexual is "exceeded". To exceed actually means to do something to a greater degree or to go beyond the proper bounds or measure. So, what the scripture is saying is that David cried harder than Jonathan. It was he who was more distraught. In fact, the NIV version actually says that. It says..."Then they kissed each other and wept together-but David wept the most."
As far as the kissing goes, this was no sexual, romantic kiss. Males in Bible times did greet each other with a kiss in many places in the Bible as a show of friendship and/or alliance. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5:25-26, "Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss." Of course, now it would be considered out of place because our culture is different than it was then in many ways. This is just one example.
As far as the Oedipal complexes and such, I could go on with more disputes about why there was tension, not sexual in nature. The bottom line is that homosexuality was an abomination to God. Leviticus 18:22 says, "you shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination." God does not despise the sinner, just the sin. He loves everyone equally. He invented equality. The Bible says that He is no "respector of persons", meaning He loves us all the same, homoesexual, straight, whatever. That does not require Him to love everything that we do, however. Just as a parent loves their child unconditionally, even when they make mistakes, God's love for us never changes. Let's stick to that and not attempt to re-write the Bible around our sin to suit us. Let's be honest and love everyone the same, and hold ourselves accountable to live the life He wants us to live.
Why would anyone be upset with this? I thought the Bible was meant to include everyone and that God loves everyone. People who say that its blasphemy that a great man loved another man but don't find anthing blasphemous in all the mass murders committed by other bible heroes?
This is a tough one. It does appear from the man's poetry that he was in love. Well I keep thinking of all the young people killed in Bush's dreadful Iraq war and there were certainly many homosexual soldiers among them. So we shouldn't weep for them too? I think this story is important.
Interesting possibility, especially taking Ivrit translations into account. Admittedly it's more interesting to note the fierce reactions from a few in these comments. It's as if some can't even conceive the people in scripture might actually be human.
You almost lost me with the headline. Interesting bit of bible history, but why paint all of us to the right of center with the brush of gender preference bigotry? Isn't that a bit prejudicial itself?
Great article, it stands to reason that many Gay figures are in the Bible and this makes perfect and logical sense. Human nature is the same then as it is now.
To respond to one email:
Leviticus 18:22 says, "you shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination." Abomination does not mean a sin. In English, it can mean something loathsome or disgusting but it is not the same as a sin. In Latin, the translation is: "to deprecate as an ill omen", again that does not mean a sin.
What one persons finds disgusting (brussels sprouts for me), another may indeed enjoy (my husband does).
I am tired of seeing one Biblical quote as the underpinning for gay bashing.
sodomites were sinful to God because of homosexuality. "Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” " Genesis 19:4-5
12 The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.” Genesis 19:12-13
Yikes. My Southern Baptist grandmother is rolling in her grave. And anyway, that is long ago in a fable. Why are we getting our knickers in a bunch?? Let's focus on making a fair positive life possible for gays, straights, or anyone alive now.
whoa silver, why must "love" always be associatted with lust. When you had a brother or family member pass on and you mourn for him is it because you had a relationship of lust. Your minds are warped. no wonder society is sick because peoples minds are being poisened with this type of smut. I pray you repent and GOD forgive you.
You're just another left wing wacko. Someone who takes the Bible out of context. The Bible notes that there is a penalty for that.
David was married to King Saul’s daughter, Michele, sister of Jonathan when all this was going on. David also married any number of times without the benefit of divorce. Polygamy was a very common form of marriage in Old Testament times. IE Moses was a polygamist as well as David’s son Salomon [300 wives]. That David and Jonathan loved each other is indisputable, deeply and for a lifetime. It was passionate, but we have no description of any sexual act beyond kissing and holding one another. But then there really are very few depictions of overt sexual activity in Scripture. Rape is another case and that is not really sex, it is violence and there is plenty of very descriptive violence in Scripture. David & Jonathan’s love for each other is just one more example of how God’s acting though relationships to bring about good. Scripture tells the stories of how God works with human beings. What got recorded was those event through witch God was seen as working for human good. It was mostly the Greeks philosophers who mistrusted sex and the human experience that drove the Christian Church to mistrust any sexual experience. Including heterosexual sex other than for procreation. Sick people.
Hello Ben,
What an interesting article. There is no doubt, whatsoever that homosexuality was prevalent during David and Jonathan’s days. It is well defined in Leviticus as an abomination to the LORD. Homosexuality was a part of life in those times too. Well described in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Without a doubt homosexuality abounded.
When it comes to Jonathan & David and their relationship, we find varying opinions about the form of their relationship. You have stated your believe based upon interpretation of a Hebrew word(s). My findings indicate that Hebrew interpretation of the word “exceeded” (1 Samuel 20:41) is not all-inclusive to “enlarged”. I find the following from the root Hebrew word - gadal (sorry no ability on my PC to type Hebrew correctly) which is a primitive root; properly to twist, that is to be (cautiously make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride): -advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be (come, do, give, make, wax), great (-er, come to…estate + things), grow(up), increase, lift up, magnify (ifical), be much set by, nourish(up), pass, promote, proudly, (spoken), tower.
With the various meaning possibilities through this Hebrew word interpretation, is it appropriate to land only on “enlarged”? Is it not possible, since none of us were there, that there could have been an intense male bond that would not have to be oriented in homosexuality? I think yes. On yet, another note, it is difficult to read the illustrations of Jonathan and not link homosexuality to his character. However, does that mean that David was compliant and participatory in homosexuality? I have friendships with homosexuals but I would never think of having sex with them since I am heterosexual. Why could that not be the position David took? Or is our generational view only limited to the view of the homosexuality persuasion?
Moving on, in your reference to 2 Samuel 1:26, I look again to the Hebrew interpretation and root words for interpretation of “women” (ish-shaw; naw-sheem). The definition reads – The first form is the feminine, the second form is an irregular plural; a woman –[adulter]ess, each, every, female, Xmany, + many, one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. So again, we are left with interpretation about the fashion and form of love David had for Jonathan. Interesting, most interesting is your interpretation.
My final thought is this. With David being orally trained (raised) in the Law by his father, and with him repeatedly confessing his sins before God in the Psalms, why did he never confess a homosexual affair with Jonathan? David would have known the Law and the LORD’s declaration of abomination towards homosexuality. Why would David keep that hidden and not confess it before the LORD as he did with his other sins?
My take away from this information is that there could have been a love between David and Jonathan that is rooted in a form seldom known in the world today. A non-homosexual relationship. On this side of eternity, we will never really know what the relationship consisted of but I do know we are all sinners loved by the LORD. I attempt my very best to follow this principal with my fellow man, no matter what their persuasion. For, I too am a depraved sinner (probably the greatest sinner), loved by the LORD. I further pray that all people come to know the LORD with their whole heart.
Thanks for the consideration from the voice of the Right Wingers.
Jerry Troyer
And there can be no doubt that saying pretentiously, "there can be no doubt" isn't evidence of homosexuality in the Bible, nor the sophist translation of a moron. If David was gay, you evil lust addicted God hating, morons, then David in his old age would have requested to be with a man, NOT A WOMAN, LET ALONE A 12 YEAR OLD ONE YOU MORONS.
Happily refuting evil idiots all the time. - http://www.eternian.wordpress.com
two guys together and expressing to one another and this isn't gay? when it says his seat will be empty, it's referring to his butt. what either one did to that butt requires very little imagination or forethought.
just the type of comment such a post would attract.
HA take that wingers. Your precious David was as gay as I am. Cope.
This article is entirely based on assumptions and misinterpretation, in other words: your twisted understanding of words like "love" and "friendship". David is revered in Christianity and Islam as well - please don't shove your twisted interpretation down our throats.
you quoted (from 1 Samuel Chapter 20)"----on the ground and bowedlow three times. They kissed each other and wept together;until David exceeded." The Torah portion I have does not use those last three words. Rather it says "David wept the longer". I suspect that David and Jonathan had an extremely strong friendship toward one another, and "loved" each other as brothers.
god backwards is dog
ahahahah hahahaha
Sorry bible bangers... it's all interpretation... That's sort of the point.
there are other places in the bible that show david emotional nature , he had problems controling his emotion.
jonatan , his sun , and others show it.
he was human and had a difucukty with his sexual erges as well to the point of bat sheva...
abomonation is used in other contexes to mean extrem sin
the bible have being writen by people how didn't care for himosexuality ' they kept only tha thing that are ok so one cant find homosexuality in the bible in any but nagative context.
I was interested in the possability that David and Jonathan's relationship might have been more that platonic.(yeah,ok, I'll use the word, GAY.) It's that reasearch that brought me to this site. I have noticed as I study scripture that the Bible never seeks to hide the sins of even it's greatest heros but uses them to show Gods grace and mercy to the repentent heart. The Bible also tells of David adultry with a married woman and how he had Uriah, her husband killed. Make no mistake, David suffered greatly for all of that and found grace in Gods eyes and was forgiven. Never use the sins of Bible heros as justification for presumptious sin. Homosexuality is just as sinful as adultry amoung straight people so you folks sitting in the pew on sunday after having an adultrious affair during the week are just as guilty. Don't come offThe Bible never suggests that we should hate the sinner rather, we should hate the sin and love the sinner as Christ did even to those who nailed him to the cros
If historical Jesus did exist, he would have been totally gay. He needed twelve other dudes to follow him around all the time... in the butt.
Yes, this was a great love story in the Bible. And, NO, Leviticus does NOT condemn homosexuality. It is a condemnation of non-consensual male on male sex and temple prostitution. So, David and Jonathan did NOT sin with this romantic and sexual relationship. It was quite approved of by the loving Creator.
repost:
sodomites were sinful to God because of homosexuality. "Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. 5 They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” " Genesis 19:4-5
12 The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, 13 because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.” Genesis 19:12-13
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