Jesus has given His followers weapons to fight our enemies. transitory, homosexuality, deployed by the redactors as a textual means to assert David's rights against Jonathan's: the latter willingly alienated his princely status by bowing down (1 Samuel 20:41), sexually speaking, to the former. On the outside, they were as different as different David and Jonathans relationship was simply one of close friends. This intimate relationship was sealed before God. Consequently, the two men exchanged kisses of parting sorrow. The major problem with this view is that the Hebrew word that is used for both words translated love in verse 26 is ahaba, which is derived from aheb. [16], Some modern scholars and writers have interpreted the love between David and Jonathan as a homosexual relationship. As Saul continues to pursue David, he and Jonathan renew their covenant, after which they do not meet again. WebJonathans Covenant with David | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org | Reformed Bible Studies & Devotionals at Ligonier.org. The problem with this interpretation is that David was not yet anointed, so Saul could not be usurping Davids throne. If the number 770 is miscopied as 760, there is nothing in the number which tells us there is a copying error. And eat its choice fruits! [46], In platonic respects, such as in sacrificial loyalty and zeal for the kingdom, Jonathan's love is seen as surpassing that of romantic or erotic affection,[47] especially that of the women David had known up until that time. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Jonathan would be about 35 when Mephibosheth was born. 3. How did David do whatever Saul asked him to do? Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father's house. It is difficult to see how this could be realistically reduced to 30 years to fit the Septuagint reading of 1 Samuel 13:1, though a few years reduction could be made. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Driscoll, James F. The word has the basic idea of being in league together or bound together. David leaves Saul, Jonathan and Michal, and moves repeatedly from place to place to elude Saul. This combination seems improbable given the basic information listed above, as few of the implied connections fit vey well. The basic Old Testament information on which this study is based is as follows: [45] The only occurrence where the phrase is used of lovers is a wife no longer finding grace in the eyes of her husband, not because he no longer finds her physically attractive but because he has found some indecency in her (Deuteronomy 24:1). Jon Levenson and Baruch Halpern suggest that the phrase suggests "David's theft of Saul's wife", and that the verse supports the construction that Ahinoam, the wife of Saul is the same Ahinoam who became David's wife. It is utterly wrong-headed to read the idea of homosexuality into this text. So the balance of probability seems to favour a reign between 10 and 20 years. David and Jonathan differ considerably in age, and Jonathan is unusually old for Mephibosheth to be his firstborn. The age difference between David and Jonathan could be lessened by supposing that Saul and Jonathan were both older than the values shown for example if Saul was about 10 years older and Jonathan in his late twenties at the time of his fathers accession. Ive looked at several different versions of the verse and some state one year old, and two years over Israel and others state thirty years old and forty two years over Israel. Our enemies are His enemies and He fights for us. Do this a few times with the children. In summary, Jonathan loved David as a friend and gave David the garments intended for the heir to King Saul. Learning Goal: Students will learn that a believers best friend is the the Lord Jesus Christ. So, then, first of all, what does it mean that Saul was only one year old when he began to reign? and they called to Lot and said to him, Where are the men who came to you tonight? Ronald F. Youngblood. The preceding verses indicate a series of campaigns, and the following chapter describes a prolonged action against the Amalekites. Mephibosheth is born when Jonathan is about 25, again a reasonable value. However, it does not fit with the speech of Paul at the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. One solution, which we find in the New International Version, is to assume that 1 Samuel 13:1 has become corrupted in transmission. [18], The story of David and Jonathan is introduced in Samuel 1 (18:1), where it says that "Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself", something that modern scholars have described as philia or love at first sight. Nardelli disagrees and argues that the various covenants Jonathan engaged David into as the superior partner gradually elevated David's status and may be seen as marriage-like. When Jonathan gave David his weapons it was symbolic that because of the covenant they made with each other, they were obligated to protect and defend each other, no matter what. David was 30 when Saul died, so that David was born in the tenth year of Sauls reign (2 Samuel 5:4). Again, a higher figure is more probable. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Keil and Delitzsch; and is seen as referring to Merab and Michal: John Gill; T. Bab. 2990 Solomon year 1. That means no permission is needed as long as you credit this Ministry-To-Children.com in the final work. The first reference to the friendship of David and Jonathan is found in 1 Samuel 18:1-4. In fact, David went out of his way to accord Saul respect as the Lords anointed and as Israels proper ruler. Samuel would be around 68. They believe that the David and Jonathan kissin 1 Samuel 20:40-41 indicates that they were homosexual lovers. % [28] The six sections she mentions are, Of these six examples, Ackerman identifies the most important example being the last one (the Song of the Bow) due to David's assertion that Jonathan's love to David "was more wonderful than the love of women".[28]. The answer is not hard to find. Neither term is ever used for David and Jonathans relationship. But was Jonathan gay? . Lets read 20:1-3. [10], In response to the argument that homoeroticism was edited out, some traditionalists who subscribe to the Documentary Hypothesis note the significance of the lack of censoring of the descriptions at issue, in spite of the Levitical injunctions against homoerotic contact. Even though Jonathan was a mighty prince and nearing 50 years of age, while David was a humble shepherd and likely not yet 20 years old, those differences between them did not matter. * The covenant they made was a real protection for their friendship. How so? Than the love of women. (ESV) In our culture we might say that Jonathan and David had a kindred spirit. Site design and hosting by . Some Logical Conclusions All the above is stated for the The next question to be addressed is, How should we understand 2 Samuel 20:41 where we are told about a David and Jonathan kiss?, Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad and said to him, Go, bring them to the city. When the lad was gone, David rose from the south side and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed three times. Here are two articles I found on the internet at http://www.oldtestamentstudies.net/judges/reignlengthsaul.asp?item=11&variant=0 and 2. p. 706. [12], Medieval literature occasionally drew upon the biblical relationship between David and Jonathan to underline strong personal, intimate friendships and homoerotic relationships between men. Here is the Bible bearing witness to love between two people of the same gender. For example, when I see the word worle I recognize that this is a spelling error and guess the actual word is world. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Dod appears in Song of Solomon 4:10 and 16. 2Sa 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 60 As Jonathan Kirsch notes, many attempts have been made to conceal the flesh-and-blood David from us. (2 Samuel 12:7-8) Does God condemn polygamy? Return to top After that victory, Saul was proclaimed king (1 Samuel 11). Today it is common for men to exchange a kiss on the cheek as a greeting, as a farewell, an expression of joy or sorrow, and to seal an agreement. Review Questions: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-16, 19:1-10,20 Does sodomite mean temple prostitute in the Bible? Even if you have good friends Jesus always needs to be your best friend. Ish-bosheth is at most 30 when he takes Sauls place as king. In verse 20, aheb is used to refer to Sauls daughter, Michals, love for David. While David had a loyal and remarkable friendship with Jonathan, the same cannot be said of his wives. Its not you, its us. A sample of 362 adolescents As well as the basic pieces of information above, the following extra items appear reasonable: THE PROBLEM OF SAULS REIGN ?/72J~f]/^7Gc=$Ldai+v,Klc3E_7?,cQ7]?e[|m^Z&E9O93}r\;]_2iQ)G-GOt21 Also, Paul was not concerned at this point with giving detailed chronological facts, but outlining a broad sweep of history in a few words in order to form a backcloth for the life and work of Jesus Christ. If you are a believer the best friend you will ever have is Jesus. Saul retained David on that day and did not allow him to return to his fathers house. 1 Samuel 13:3, 4 Jonathan at Sauls accession The sages characterized the relationship between Jonathan and David in the following Mishnah: Whenever love depends on some selfish end, when the end passes away, the love passes away; but if it does not depend on some selfish end, it will never pass away. Samuel is 58. 2 Samuel 1:25-27 (NASB). After the wedding, the disappointed Saul sends assassins to the newlyweds quarters, but David escapes with the help of Michol. The NIV footnotes explains that the translators have assumed that Acts 13:21 is giving a round number when it says he only reigned for 40 years. It is often thought that this recounts a rather earlier episode concerning Saul and David, than the account in chapter 16 of David entering military service. Now suppose Saul reigns for 12 years. 19.2. The kind of covenant loyalty seen Lessons in Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by John Oakes Lessons in English and French. Psalm 119:63 I am a friend to all who fear You, to all who follow Your precepts.. So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him over the men of war. [30], Other interpreters point out that neither the books of Samuel nor Jewish tradition documents sanctioned romantic or erotic physical intimacy between the two characters, which the Bible elsewhere makes evident when between heterosexuals, most supremely in the Song of Solomon. (Jesus gives believers His robe of righteousness), Why was Saul angry with David? Also, David would protect Jonathans family (1 Samuel 20:16-17; 23:16-18). (Angry, jealous) Which love depended on a selfish end? WebIt is important to note that the difference in age between Jonathan and David rests critically on the translation adopted at 1 Sam. Therefore, when David said Jonathans love was more wonderful then David was referring to sexual activity. David served as Sauls armor bearer for several years, and then joined the army at age 20. This Jonathan was a noble man of true character, faith, and integrity. Finally, ahebis never used to express homosexual desire or activity.[2]. 14:9 [33][37][38], Even if the mention of "nakedness" in 1 Samuel 20:30 could be interpreted to convey a negative sexual nuance, it is related to Jonathan's mother Ahinoam rather than Jonathan ("to the shame of the nakedness of your mother"). We are told this happened when David was thirty years old (2 Sam 5:4-5). At the same time Sauls youngest son, Ishbosheth, began to reign in Mahanaim at the age of the forty (2 Sam 2:10). (1 Samuel 10:12). This reign-length also fits with Josephus information, though not of course with Pauls as recorded in Acts. No matter what happened they would always be friends. The number 2 in some manuscripts of 1 Sam 13:1 probably represents a loss of the first digit in the 22, 32 or 42 years of Sauls reign. 2 Samuel 1:25-27 is better understood as a very strong friendship commitment between two men. http://preceptaustin.org/covenant_the_exchanging_of_robes.htm, Lesson: When Jesus Was A Child (Luke 2:41-52), Lesson: Why Do Bad Things Happen? They sang, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands. Conclusion -- Jonathan was at least 58 years old when he died and David What is the meaning of effeminate and homosexual in 1 Corinthians 6:9? He [Kish] had a son named Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites the word bahur is used here, suggesting not youthfulness but vigour (the word often being used of warriors). Ish-bosheth could be nearly 40 when he took the throne (depending how long after Jonathan he was born), fitting with 2 Samuel 2. David became king. How long did Saul reign? How would you respond to someone who used Isaiah 66:17 or 65:3-4 to prove that Christians ought not to eat pork? The description suggests a mature man who had already gained the respect of others. C4ktI)-O:26aW#(2v'>9jRvhMG(A#`P:wtt(HBV3~_3@zFZ[;$ ] ocyRAd2ssygO%p8 gQ{9k>eq. Jonathan is about 45 when his son Mephibosheth is born. (A person with the same beliefs, attitudes, and feelings as oneself.) In most cases, of course, such a procedure is proper, but in every case we have to read the information in context, comparing Scripture with Scripture, and make sure that our interpretation is sound before adding up the numbers. It is a variation on the basic Hebrew word for love, aheb. "King David." David and Jonathan Same sex relationship in the Bible? This would suggest that Saul had reigned long enough for David to have encountered him once as a youth probably in his teens in connection with Goliath, and a second time rather later when he entered his service in a military capacity. After the death of Saul, David became king of Judah in Hebron (2 Sam 2:11). What were Sauls two years of reign? This means that most of the basic information points and reasonable suppositions about the lives of the individuals concerned can be met, and agrees with the tradition Josephus knew. And they kissed each other and wept together, but David wept the more. Jonathan and David made a covenant, because Jonathan loved him as his very self. In this free Bible lesson, students will learn about Jonathan and Davids friendship. All who put their faith in Jesus as Savior take off their filthy rags and put on His robe of righteousness. In my Bible it states that the Hebrew manuscripts state "Saul was years old when he became king; and he reigned two years over Israel". That is, Solomons wife is engaged in different activities that is commonly called foreplay today. Sanhedrin, fol. WebJonathan, in the Old Testament (I and II Samuel), eldest son of King Saul; his intrepidity and fidelity to his friend, the future king David, make him one of the most admired figures in the Bible. Jeremiah 9:23-24. 1 Samuel 18 Davids rise to fame 2993 Foundation of Temple laid, 480 years after Exodus. The covenant the two men had formed eventually led to David, after Jonathan's death, graciously seating Jonathan's son Mephibosheth at his own royal table instead of eradicating the former king Saul's line. Davids enemies would be Jonathans enemies and Jonathans enemies would be Davids. The comparison between Jonathans love and a wifes love is not at the point of sexuality but at the point of fidelity. Jonathan is about 18 at the start of Sauls reign, and David is 30 at the end of it, so David is about 10 years older than Jonathan. Proverbs 17:17 (NASB), This helps us understand that the David and Jonathan friendship was a covenantal love. Test: Review Questions It is the only word used for love in the fourth chapter of the book which describes foreplay and sexual intercourse between Solomon and his wife. Sauls kingship was not illegal (contrary to Anstey), but it was assuredly doomed. What is the biblical definition of sodomite? If Saul had his sons close together then Jonathan may have been forty-two at his death but he may have been older. The damaged text: 1 Samuel 13:1 Both had initiated faith-motivated attacks against militarily superior Philistines that had resulted in great victories for Israel. Jonathan and David were approximately the same age the closeness of their friendship does not preclude widely differing ages but renders it less likely. Copyright 2022 . 1 Samuel 17:33 contrasts David "you are only a boy" with Goliath "he has been a fighting man from his youth", and the same Hebrew word naar is used in both phrases. Finally, just because Scripture states that two men loved each other, does not mean that they engaged in sexual activity with each otherhomosexual activity. Why did he tempt Adam? Jonathan would be about 53 at that time. Samuel is getting old when he anoints Saul for kingship (1 Samuel 8:1-4). The purpose of this page is to consider the reign-length of Saul, as indicated by the various pieces of information in 1 and 2 Samuel. Sometimes the length of a kings reign will be given in terms of something other than his literal rule over the nation. (Jesus). ]>x6RX-5u8Wh+@hUC|*`N{cyaLqHRNu bs /G2m5>OI>47:$4a);oO/~vkU.z>/F#e+es]pl6 __/d.PRrVumz}3}kjX`VO|l*[^ XJ,LU,iorBs-D +"kX7[eK E096*rrt1X;VVl@#r'_/^4_Qrx_3Nwl_Q psM1JCQ'}jr/@bKfI[3ro_d]k`~ddRg|^R-|JBY @c2?|U`Xt,o;@T$+%2y T`.&.d&JsrF3) #S YQhD*9Qp]cw HyF 16X f3t7eS|HEna.}|oIuXLW` [0W The difficulty arises because the passage in which Sauls age at accession, and regnal length, has been damaged at an early stage of transmission of the text. As a starting-point, it will be supposed that the XXX-two value for Sauls reign length should be replaced with 2, 12, 22, 32, or 42 in other words just the tens figure has been lost and the units figure is correct. It occurs only thirty-seven times in the Old Testament. The Catholic Encyclopedia, "Parshat Toldot, Mahar Hodesh,(1 Samuel 20:1842) November 13, 2004", Keren, Orly. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. The episodes belong to the story of David's ascent to power, which is commonly regarded as one of the sources of the Deuteronomistic history, and to its later additions.[1]. . 2949 Accession of David. Protecting The Most Valuable Treasure On Earth. However, none of the Hebrew manuscripts state thirty and forty, only the Septuagint. WebAnswer: By the time David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathans life became bound up with Davids life; he loved him as his very self. What makes a person a good friend? https://hermeneutics.meta.stackexchange.com. 1 Samuel 19-27 David in exile, pursued by Saul (Avot 5:16)"[8]. Jesus is the mighty friend of sinners. 23:1518. Jonathans choice to be Davids friend revealed Godly character traits. He selflessly became friends with David who had been anointed as the new king. The actor and Victorias Secret model have a 14-year age difference between them, but since becoming engaged on Christmas Day in 2011, they But neither term occurs in 1 Samuel or 2 Samuel. If Saul had his sons close together then Jonathan may have been forty-two at his death but he may have been older. In verse 10, the Hebrew word dodappears in the plural. 1 Samuel 20:40-41 (NASB). This is further reinforced by the fact that in verse 16 ahebis used to refer to the love of all Israel and Judah for David. The word aheb is used in Psalm 109:4-5 for friendship. David, the youngest son of Jesse, kills Goliath at the Valley of Elah where the Philistine army is in a standoff with the army of King Saul (Jonathan's father). 2989 Accession of Solomon. At the end, after Sauls third and final rebellion against the Lord, Samuel announced to him that the kingdom had been taken from him, and that he had been rejected from being king (1 Samuel 15:26-28). Your response? Since his sons were old enough (though not moral enough) to be judges themselves at this time, they must be presumed to be around 30, and Samuel at least 50 years old. 4. Jonathan and David were approximately the same age the closeness of their friendship does not preclude widely differing ages but renders it less likely. Moody Press. Another Old Testament expression for sexual intercourse is went in to her. It is descriptive and occurs eight times in the Old Testament (Genesis 29:23; 30:4; 38:2, 18; Judges 16:1; Ruth 4:13; 2 Samuel 12:24; Ezekiel 23:44). The same word is, for example, used of Joseph at age 17. David became king when Saul died at the age of about 80, and Jonathan died at the same time, at about 60 years of age. Assumptions and inferences That is why the NASB translates dod as Beloved., Awake, O north wind, Jonathan would be subservient to David in his future reign. Bible overwhelmingly refers to homosexuality as a sin. Saul had three sons, of which Jonathan was the oldest. I understand that numbers sometimes are copied down differently and there could have been a copyist error. [22], David's praise in 2 Samuel 1:26 for Jonathan's love (for him) over the love of women is evidence for same-sex attraction, along with Saul's exclamation to his son at the dinner table, "I know you have chosen the son of Jesse which is a disgrace to yourself and the nakedness of your mother!" Despite a couple of short-term reconciliations, David remains an exile and an outlaw.[5]. 1999. p. 26. Every kids church ministry deserves the very best resources for teaching Gods Word, even when they dont have the financial resources. We must remember that love between a husband and wife is multifaceted. The number 30 in the Septuagint is almost certainly a copyingerror. Saul had already been rejected for eight years. 1 Samuel 23:1418 David is strengthened by Jonathan while hiding from Saul. 1992. vol. (All the people and Sauls officers) Thus, in this year, Saul was anointed king by Samuel, led the people in a victory over the Ammonites, and was crowned king of Israel. Moreover, the King James translation does not make much sense: "Saul reigned one year. What happened during these two years? As we have seen, the actual number of years Saul reigned was 40, which settles the larger chronological question, but which forces us again to consider what to do with 1 Samuel 13:1. Whoever hurts a believer hurts Jesus. the description of David and Jonathan's first few meetings in 1 Sam 19:17. 1 Samuel 9:2 description of Saul In this free Bible lesson, students will learn about Jonathan and Davids friendship. Jonathan around 53. Dale Ralph Davis in his commentary on 2 Samuel writes. WebAnd David and Jonathan made a covenant, for be loved him as his own soul. Dale Ralph Davis. [27] Ackerman and Nardelli argue that the narrators of the books of Samuel encrypted same-sex allusions in the texts where David and Jonathan interact so as to insinuate that the two heroes were lovers. The reign-length of Saul Clearly there are variations in the Hebrew manuscripts based on problems with copying the number. 8 0 obj All Rights Reserved. This word needs to be understood in the context of the passage, specifically in the context of verse 3. . The feeling is expressed before the men exchanged a single word in an interaction that has been The relationship between David and Jonathan has also been compared more explicitly to other homoerotic relationships in Near Eastern literature, including by Cyrus H. Gordon, who noted the instance in the Book of Jashar, excerpted in Samuel 2 (1:26), in which David "proclaims that Jonathan's love was sweeter to him than the love of a women", as being similar to both Achilles' comparison of Patroclus to a girl and Gilgamesh's love for Enkidu "as a woman". If the writer of Samuel meant to say this, why would he use words identical to a formula he will later use to denote the kings age at the time of his accession, and the length of his reign? Thus, Saul was said to be in the company of the prophets, "and who is their father?" the incident of Saul berating Jonathan for his friendship with David in 1 Sam 20:3034, David fleeing from the court of King Saul in 1 Sam. "[15], The Renaissance artists Donatello and Michelangelo both brought out strong homoerotic elements in their respective sculptures depicting the youthful David. Jonathan is slain on your high places. Jonathan was about 18 at the start of Sauls reign he was entrusted with leading an attack on a Philistine outpost at this time (1 Samuel 13:2,3). Did animals eat meat before the fall? The higher form of love in heaven will not include sex. David took off his shepherds clothes and put on a princes robe. Your love to me was more wonderful Preceptaustin.org) 9 (Edersheim). Sauls body is publicly displayed at Beth-shan, but recovered by men of Jabesh Gilead for burial. "Ahinoam (Person)", The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. Song of Solomon 4:16 (NASB), A more accurate translation would be Lover. He is a sexual lover involved in foreplay in verse 10 and sexual intercourse in verse 16. Therefore, the question that this article addresses is, Did King David and Jonathan have same sex relations?. David rises in rank in Sauls army, marries Michal, and develops a close friendship with Jonathan, at the same time arousing Sauls jealousy. Unless it means something else here, which is what Anstey asserts, we shall have to look for another interpretation. It is true that the phrase translated "when he began reigning," is literally in Hebrew "in his reigning," but this is the phrase used everywhere else in the Old Testament to denote the beginning of a mans reign (2 Samuel 2:10; 5:4; 1 Kings 14:21; etc.) His jealousy toward David had grown so much that he told Jonathan and his men to kill David.

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