April 19, 2008

Breadcrumb: The Bible's first homosexual lovers?

You've got to wonder about Jonathan and David. In chapter 18, Jonathan loves David "as his own soul." They make a covenant, and Jonathan gives David all of his clothes. (1 Sam. 18:1-4) Throughout the rest of the book, it seems that the two are (at the very least) best friends. Jonathan hides David when Saul is trying to kill him, reasons with his dad to bring David back into the fold, and encourages David to run away when it's clear that's not going to happen. Late in chapter 20, the two men kiss and weep when David needs to leave. Though it's not clear in the text, it's certainly possible to make a case that these two were closeted lovers. Or perhaps people just expressed friendship differently back then.

2 comments:

heather said...

i'm for the latter...
Lincoln had a similar relationship, didn't he?

Julie said...

This, I wouldn't know. Lincoln's not my speciality.