How would Christians explain the relationship between David and Jonathan?

Question

At Jonathan’s funeral, David declares that he loved Jonathan more than any woman. This is just one of several Bible passages that describe and celebrate an intense love between these two men that went well beyond friendship.

Some Christians point to Jonathan and David as an example of idealized male bonding — a type of “brotherly love” not “stained” by the romantic entanglements of male-female relationships. The biblical text, however, is completely inconsistent with this strained interpretation:

“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!

In life and in death they were not divided;

they were swifter than eagles,

they were stronger than lions.

How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle!

Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.

I am distressed for you my brother Jonathan;

Greatly beloved were you to me;

your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.”

(2 Samuel 1:23, 26-27, emphasis added)

Nowhere is this specific relationship condemned by God. This is curious. There are other acts and relationships within the books of Samuel and Kings where God points out wrong relationships and even punishes them. However in this case, He does not. Obviously the texts points to a homosexual relationship. If God pointed out David's sin against Bathsheba, why not this one with Jonathan? Could some homosexual relationships be sanctioned by God? Comments.

Answer 1

People see what they chose to see or maybe better said they see themselves projected on others...always!

Answer 2

The text most certainly does NOT point out a homosexual relationship.

people who see this text as pointing out a homosexual relationship are just looking for justification of their sins (homosexuality)

the thing is, you can find anything if you're looking for it.

saying that this is a homosexual relationship is just as abserd as me saying "oh, you have a brother and you like him. you're g*y."

go get an openmind

Answer 3

Obviously the text does NOT point to a homosexual relationship .

There are many types of love and only in the USA would some one think that the word love has to mean s*x.. In many countries men dance together, hug,kiss and have extremely close friendships and they are not homosexual. They have great friendship's and great love and trust for each other.  So did David and Jonathan

Answer 4

Maybe the bible is meant not to be taken on a literal level.

Answer 5

They would use their favorite alibi:  "you are taking it out of context"

Answer 6

Correction: Obviously the texts are not homosexual at all.

This story should show that we need friends. Even great kings needed friends. It shows us who true friends are.

Answer 7

I don't see how you could have read it that way. (AND WHY DID YOU PUT THE VERSES OUT OF ORDER?) emphasis added my foot. No where does it say they had homosexual relationships. The Bible talks freely on those subjects so if they had it would have been there. Maybe your just jealous you have never had that "brotherly love" thing going on.

Answer 8

David clearly refers to him as brother.

Answer 9

If your mind is clean, you will see it as a holy relationship

Answer 10

You seem to have s*x and love confused..

So If I love my sister  more than man does that mean we are lesbians? Get real.. I love my Mom more than men. Does that make us lesbians?

My brothers love each other, I assure you they are not g*y.. Ask those soldiers on the battlefield if they love the other soldiers they are with. I assure they do and they certainly aren`t thinking s*x...

It seems as if this is your excuse and it won`t stand..

Love and s*x are entirely different, and one has nothing to do with the other.. I can love someone with all my heart and certainly NOT desire to have s*x with them..

Read 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 20:1-17.

David and Jonathan are what one might call "perfect brothers" - there is a deep sense of commitment to each other, and a strong sense of love between these two men. There is complete trust present; both are open and honest with each other, and each displays unselfish commitment to the other. This is not homosexuality; it is a deep friendship where the two are essentially "soul-mates". 1 Samuel 18:1 tells us that "the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul", and again in verse 3: "Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul"

Peace and Blessings from Texas <><

Answer 11

Jonathan and David did not have a homosexual relationship..

It never ceases to amaze me to the lengths men and women will go to try and justify their sin.. God bless you !

Answer 12

David calls him his brother and regarded him as that. I don't believe the interpretation is strained at all...in fact, I think alluding to any other type of relationship is stretching the Scripture to it's breaking point. If God had seen anything in David's relationship with Jonathan as sin he would have dealt with David as he did regarding the relationship with Bathsheba.  

Answer 13

Although it is rare nowadays, it was common for men to have more than fond feelings for each other and still not be considered lovers. After all, what makes a person truly homosexual is when they have sexual relations.

David and Jonathan's relationship is very unique and is one of my favorites in the Bible.

Answer 14

Read an NIV's footnotes about this passage and then I'll talk.

Answer 15

No this text does not "obviously point to a homosexual relationship." You can read that into it if you want to but is definetly not obvious.  He calls him "my brother." Two people of the same s*x can have a deep, close relationship and I belive that is what they had. If you want to justify homosexuality by these verses you can but you will be wrong. Theirs was not a homosexual relationship and that is why God did not condemn it. He condemns homosexuality plenty of times throughout the Bible. Be careful not to twist the Bible to suit your own ends and thereby deceive yourself.

Answer 16

It is interesting, is it not, that Jonathan's loyalty to David (this young guy he just met) is greater than his loyalty to family or even to the throne of Israel itself.

That is one powerful love.

I have read that there are hints and plays on words in the Hebrew text implying romantic involvement, but I don't my Hebrew to the extent I could confirm that.

I do not know whether these two were lovers, though it would not surprise me.  But I am quite sure they were passionately devoted to each other, and we know they had a bond of life covenant.  That does make one think, doesn't it?  Interesting that, after touting much energy in defense of this being about brother-friendship, that American Christian men absolutely don't do this kind of thing with each other.