Story of David and Jonathan
David and how he slew the mighty giant Goliath. He was a warrior, a musician, a poet and the subject and admiration behind Michelangelo's famous sculpture, "The statue of David", which stands in Florence as a detailed representation of the male anatomy; demonstrating the beauty of male human body. However, this handsome king also caught the attention of another young man during his time on earth.
After slaying Goliath it so happened that David was brought before Saul, King Of Israel, Father of Jonathan. 1 Sam 18:1 tells us "And it came to pass, when he [David] had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." The Book of 1 Samuel then continues to explain the extent of the love that Jonathan had for David telling the story of how he took his own robe from his back , along with his other worldly possessions and shared them with David in order to form a covenant with David because of the love he had for him.
The Trials and Tribulations
The people of Israel were also fond of David. So much so that Saul became jealous and attempted to kill David. However, 1 Sam 19:2 states "But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:" We go on to learn that during the private time they shared David tells Jonathan "Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes." (1 Sam. 20:3). Jonathan then replies 'Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee..."
Jonathan evetually approaches his father during dinner. Saul tells his son "Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse [David] to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness'" (1 Sam. 20:30). Jonathan leaves the dinner table angry and saddened. Out of grief Jonathan does not eat meat the second day of the month. He goes to David at the hiding place. "David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city." (1 Sam. 20:41-42).
The Death of Jonathan
Saul continues to pursue David (1 Sam. 21-23:14); David and Jonathan renew their covenant together (1 Sam. 23:15-18); and eventually Saul and David reconcile (1 Sam. 24:16-22). When Jonathan is slain on Mt. Gilboa by the Philistines (1 Sam. 31:2), David laments his death saying, "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women." (2 Sam. 1:26).
Surely there was a great love between both David and Jonathan but the question remains: what kind of love was this?...platonic? romantic? sexual? Or is it just left to one's own interpretation; guiding you how to live a life of worthy love?
3 comments:
Hmmm.... You leave the story open? I'd really love to hear your opinion on it.
But again... there are books on the Bible not approved for underaged.. see the Song of Songs, and who did Cain married if it was not one of his sisters? Bible, Bible... do you allow incest then?
Some time some friend extremely Xtian but gay nonetheless told me that Genesis was not to be taken literally. But then why is it the rest of it to be taken. And as I told you before, Jesus, if ever existed, was not a Christian.
Well i do believe that for a son to go against his father during the biblical days is a very serious thing...so therefore I do believe that Jonathan was in love with David.
But I was not there and the bible is written in such a way it is hard to be accurate. To me, you should use the bible to teach you how to live a good life without hurting others rather than argue over the interpretation.
So i tried to write the post in a way that shows that there was something special between David and Jonathan and therefore people must that questions the bond that two men can share rather than claim that Christianity is dead wrong about homosexuality...i just don't want to be like the same Christians who have made the world a harder place.
First they'll talk about comradeship, you know, that special feeling among young boys felt when Scouting?
I'll leave it here with some remark, and you know, me Fulani: Bible? Why not The Quixote, or Romeo and Juliet? I don't know why Bible, of if you want to call it by its book names "that compilation of books" will be more accurate in describing human soul than Shakespeare was, or some other novelists and writers. And psychologists. And scholars.
Maybe I'm being a little radical, it's just that I'm watching "Jesus Camp" and you oughta watch that thing. Those Pentecostal-leaded Evangelics are out to kill us. And it's my right to be alive, no?
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