It's in the Bible.When Jonathan died in battle (gays in the military) David wrote that Jonathan's love surpassed the love of women.That kind of language does not indicate friendship.How do you feel about two of your heroes having a relationship of an intimate nature?
2007-12-18 05:05:32 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Bible has often been used as a weapon to condemn homosexuality as sinful or immoral. It is often overlooked and even outrightly denied that some of the heroes in the Bible were themselves homosexual. The story of Jonathan and David is one of the more obvious cases.
For the sake of simplicity, I'll let the Bible itself unfold most of the story.
After David's heroic victory over the Philistine giant, Goliath, in 1 Samual, Chapter 17, David meets Jonathan for the first time.
1 And it came to pass, when he 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. 2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 1 Samuel 18: 1-4
Their souls are knit together, they love each other so much that they made a covenant with each other, and Jonathan, son of the King, strips before David, who is much lower in rank and status.
In the next passages, David's popularity and military achievements are advanced, and King Saul starts getting jealous of all the attention being paid to David. In order to trap him, Saul makes David his son-in-law by giving him his daughter, Michal, to wed.
Some people may stop right here and say that if David married Michal, it's proof that he didn't have a homosexual relationship with Jonathan. There are several flaws to this argument. First, their marriage was probably only political. Saul offers his daughter's hand in marriage only as part of a greater plot to get at David. And while it was said that Michal loved David, the Bible never says that he loved her back. Also, we know from other ancient cultures such as the Greeks and even the Philistines, that heterosexual marriages weren't necessarily exclusive. It's very possible that David could have been bisexual.
In 1 Samuel 19, Saul tries to kill David, and David eventually flees in 1 Samuel 20.
1 And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? 2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so. 3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. 4 Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. 1 Samuel 20: 3-4
David and Jonathan continue talking about what to do about Jonathan's father. Then they part ways so Jonathan can go somewhere safe. Again they make a covenant with each other, and swear their love for each other. Jonathan loved David "as he loved his own soul".
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies. 17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 1 Samuel 20: 16-17
In the next passages, they plan to meet again so that Jonathan can let David know whether he should come back safe from Saul, or whether he should go away. And Jonathan talks to his father. Saul tells Jonathan that he is confused in his love for David. He also says that as long as David is around, Jonathan won't establish his lineage or kingdom. This certainly has all the elements of a coming out story.
2007-12-18 05:20:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
The bible never says explicitly that David and Jonathan were gay. Some people have interpreted the wording of the accounts of David and Jonathan to say this. However, I doubt a gay David would have had so many wives and children. Jonathan was also married and had a son.
2007-12-18 05:13:55 · answer #2 · answered by sdb deacon 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
love is not always automatically erotic or sexual. Men who have the privilege of having close friendships with other men are not necessarily gay! Many men who are married, have such close friendships.
When a friend of mine died in an accident, I felt as if my insides were just tearing apart. I loved that man, and I am definitely not gay! I missed his friendship, his companionship, the hug he gave me after five years- absence. Even today, several years later, his absence affects me.
I can definitely understand David's grief.
EDIT:
The Bible does present David's weaknesses, and it seems his major weakness was for women. He committed a horrible crime because of lust for a woman. That doesn't sound like a gay man to me.
2007-12-18 11:06:06 · answer #3 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Cain--right out of the stall he felt inferior as he was born after the eating of the fruit while his brother was born before (each were born with a twin sister) and each married the other's twin. Cain believed his offering wouldn't be acceptable no matter how great Cain thought it was, thus, he sent an 2nd rate offering. Then he spelled his brother's blood and even though he was given a dog to protect him, able to establish a town later in his years, he was accidentally killed by a grandson shooting an arrow. Even though Cain was guilty of murder, the people were told not to be the judge and jury and Cain's life was in the Creator's "hands". Even though this was the first murder, it is a lesson in life that we are a product of our environment and make the final decisions that lead us down the wrong path. Well, we all know that Adam and Eve gave up their eternal life on earth where all would have been righteous with free will. Being exposed to the knowledge of evil too soon (they would have eventually been given it--but with the right prep), shows that even making a decision that one is able to handle anything--leads us to believe that we are greater then ourselves are really. Another lesson in life. Though both Adam and Eve lived a long life and had many descendants--the pain of knowing that they would eventually die and one would have to bury their loved ones--was something they never expected would be so encompassing and such a loss. But it was just part of the plan that was written before they were created--their Creator knew what decisions they would make--yet He/She still allowed us to exist and thrive here, but with the condition we are to make this a "Garden of Eden" for all mankind--rather then for us to dwell automatically in the one He/She prepared for us to live (as a small community) for eternity. If it wasn't for the Cain, however, people today would not be so willing to maim, torture or kill via premeditation as they do today--nor would they believe they could alter the Covenant that Adam and Eve had with their Creator--it is like people today do not care what our ancestors "promised" in our name to live righteous, but rather who can define their version of a "God" and make him or her in their own image rather than the image of holiness that has always been part of our humanity.
2016-05-24 22:00:38 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I would say that was a platonic friendship. I highly doubt that David was porking Jonathan, since God said that David "was a man after his own heart", and God is very specific about how He feels about homosexuality. I believe that David's relationships with women were purely romantic, and he didn't have any deep friendships with any of them, but Jonathan was his best bud, a friend he would die for. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that they were gay.
2007-12-18 05:15:40 · answer #5 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 4⤊ 2⤋
It's your warped, depraved mind that has brought you to your conclusion. You apparently are too young , immature, or both to understand the kind of love spoken of between Jonathan and David. Perhaps one day you will understand that there can be a love between two men (it's called phileo) that's not comparable to the love between the sexes.
2007-12-18 05:58:55 · answer #6 · answered by David 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They were best friends of the same sex, like many people today who are best friends of the same sex, but not intimate partners.
There is no mention that they had intimate relations.
If you knew the bible you would know that David had a passion for a woman named Bathsheba, which lead to his downfall for awhile...
2007-12-18 05:18:57 · answer #7 · answered by Carol 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
An old mistake. They were not homosexual.
What this speaks of, is the unconditional love between friends, a real connection but without ANY hint of sexual meaning.
2007-12-18 05:15:07 · answer #8 · answered by Jed 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Who cares if they were gay, your mom could have had sex with other women or 100 guys, and you have to live with dad.
You have to learn to live your own live.
2007-12-18 05:13:42 · answer #9 · answered by Carlos E 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You need salvation!
Now we have learned from the Bible that the Rapture of the true believers of Jesus Christ will occur on May 21, 2011 AD, which will be five months before the end of the world on October 21, 2011 AD
"And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man." (Revelation 9:5)
The Bible is a Book that is absolutely true and trustworthy. It is the centerpiece, the keystone of this study.
Website: http://www.timehasanend.org/
A book by Family Radio: "Time Has An End - A Biblical History of the World 11.013 BC - AD 2011".
Are You Ready to Meet God?
2007-12-18 05:09:38 · answer #10 · answered by JESUS means: JAHWEH is Salvation 2 · 1⤊ 7⤋