David and Jonathan: Not Beyond Friendship

by Cowboy Bob Sorensen 

There are people who are so determined to force enthusiastic acceptance of LGTBQ+ lifestyles on everyone, they see references for it in the Bible that do not exist. The relationship between David and Jonathan is a favorite target of these people.

Like making long ages for compromisers with secular science views, massive eisegesis is necessary to twist Scripture so that it indicates an erotic relationship between Jonathan and David. Interpreting the text and culture of their time with contemporary views exacerbates the problem.

David and Jonathan / Rembrandt (1642)

In my school days, boys would put their arms around each other's shoulders because we were "buddies." That faded from my experience and I did not see it again after we moved to another city. In the nineteenth century, men would hold hands or put their arms around each other. This showed affection and friendship, and was not tainted by suspicions of homosexuality. Indeed, I have affection for some men but homoeroticism is abhorrent to me.

When those sidewinders attack the relationship between Jonathan and David, they conveniently omit the fact that David liked women. The wording of the covenant between the two men expressed love but not romance. For that matter, the word translated love from the Hebrew is אהב (‘ahav). This word is used in many senses like we do today; I love my late wife and I love chili with cheese, but not in the same way, obviously.

No, to imagine a homoerotic relationship between David and Jonathan is just that: imagination. To get there requires eisegesis, not exegesis, and even does violence to the text. Again, context is important. Not only the immediate verses around the passages in question, but the reader must look at chapters as well — and the contexts of history and culture. Don't listen to agenda-driven liars.

To read an enlightening article that prompted what was written here, see "David and Jonathan: Were They Just Friends?"