What happened in this passage is explained in 1 Samuel 20:18-23. (David Noel Freedman. WebJonathan 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. (1 Samuel 10:12). Their number system was similar to Roman numerals, in that it used letters to represent numbers. Sermons in Merced by Dr. John Oakes Ezekiel II Dramatic Symbolism. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. The fact that Jonathan gave David the garb and armaments originally reserved for the heir to Sauls throne clearly possesses symbolic meaning and thematic significance.[3]. 13:2, when he defeated a garrison of Philistines at Geba. In verse 20, aheb is used to refer to Sauls daughter, Michals, love for David. In verse 22, ahebrefers to the love of Sauls servants for David. 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. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; God had given David a true friend in Jonathan. Faith in God, warrior, etc.). Copyright Ministry-to-Children. These kind of friends dont think about what is best for ME, but what is best for each other, and how to glorify God. 60 As Jonathan Kirsch notes, many attempts have been made to conceal the flesh-and-blood David from us. Is it committing adultery if its my boyfriend. And when Saul had reigned two years. 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). Saul had already been rejected for eight years. Donations to this ministry aretax-deductible. Saul was probably around 40, since he had a grown son. (2 Sam 1). Verse 3 tells us that David and Jonathan made a covenant of mutual support. There are two obvious problems with this verse. (Allow responses. Homosociality is not seen as being part of the sexual taboo in the biblical world. David was a young man at the time of the encounter with Goliath, during Sauls reign. Rabbi Shimon ben Tzemach Duran (Spain, North Africa 14th15th century) delineated the significance of this mishnah: Anyone who establishes a friendship for access to power, money, or sexual relations; when these ends are not attainable, the friendship ceaseslove that is not dependent on selfish ends is true love of the other person since there is no intended end. (Magen Avot abridged and adapted translation)[8], In Christian tradition, David and Jonathan's love is understood as the intimate camaraderie between two young soldiers with no sexual involvement. Samuel is 49. Protecting The Most Valuable Treasure On Earth. That love inspired him to make a covenant with David, one that was expressed with extravagant gifts to the new celebrity. The next time David was playing his harp before him he tried to kill him again. by James B. Jordan 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. These interpreters also argue that the description in 2 Samuel 1:26 of the love (Hebrew: ahava) between David and Jonathan that is greater than the love of women should be understood in light of the two earlier mentions of love (ahava) between David and Jonathan where it is described not as love for a romantic partner but love for self (he loved him as his own soul, 1 Sam 18:3; 20:17). Earlier I mentioned that true friends are a gift from God. THE PROBLEM OF SAULS REIGN 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. The sum of these first two gives Sauls age at his accession to the throne in this case 38. Add to this the fact that context is not particularly helpful when copying numbers. 3. 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. ." Lets turn in our Bibles to 1 Samuel 18 and discover an example of true friendship. How much better is your love than wine, [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. (Ephesians 6:10-19), What did Jonathan give David when he made a covenant with him? David is about 20 years younger than Jonathan, and is himself born a few years after the start of Sauls reign. What does the Bible say about homosexuality and lesbianism? "Ahinoam (Person)", The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. 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). What was his name? Yet, even though Saul was rejected at this point from being king in a spiritual sense, Samuel continued to treat Saul as king in a national sense (1 Samuel 15:30). In 1 Samuel 20 David has been hiding. Observations on the Relationship Between David and Jonathan and the Debate on Homosexuality, Markus Zehnder, Observations on the Relationship between David and Jonathan and the Debate on Homosexuality, Westminster Theological Journal 69.1 [2007]: 127174), Edelman, Diana. (NASB)[4], David proved a successful commander, and as his popularity increased, so did Saul's jealousy. Despite a couple of short-term reconciliations, David remains an exile and an outlaw.[5]. Did animals eat meat before the fall? And come, wind of the south; This was the love of David and Jonathan. Proverbs 17:17 (NASB), This helps us understand that the David and Jonathan friendship was a covenantal love. [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. Jonathan would be subservient to David in his future reign. Song of Solomon 4:10 (NASB), In appears once in Song of Solomon 4:16 in the singular. Jonathan would be about 35 when Mephibosheth was born. [4]. J. Carl Laney. What is the meaning of effeminate and homosexual in 1 Corinthians 6:9? Samuel was around 49 years old at this time. It is clear from the above that a 2-year reign seems unlikely. . Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt. The important part of this passage is Davids statement Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women. Homosexual advocates claim that love of women reveals that David and Jonathan were making love like men do with women. A few late Septuagint manuscripts have thirty for the first figure, but it is missing from the Hebrew. WebIn the final land decision (19:29), David does not extend to Meribbaal the warmth and consideration that he deserved for his love and loyalty. Jonathan was better than a brother. Matthew Henry saw this long ago: He had reason to say that Jonathans love to him was wonderful; surely never was the like, for a man to love one who he knew was to take away the crown over his head, and to be so faithful to his rival: this far surpassed the highest degree of conjugal affection and constancy. "As we have noticed, the attraction of Jonathan to David begins almost immediately as Saul is delighted in his new companion.We are told: "When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David" (1 Sam 18:1). Read 1 Samuel 18:8-9 to see Sauls response. Since phileo love involves feelings of warmth and affection toward another person, we do not have phileo love toward our enemies. Samuel is getting old when he anoints Saul for kingship (1 Samuel 8:1-4). Jesus is the mighty friend of sinners. If you have good friends in this life they are gifts from God. They believe that the David and Jonathan kissin 1 Samuel 20:40-41 indicates that they were homosexual lovers. Jonathan was totally devoted to David becoming king of lsrael. Jonathan learned that Saul was still angry and wanted David put to death. "W`*`hMaUby,q\'E-}$3wme/rPH"`i.Z8 X7@?r1 UsTvp c]M4Y&;Pcq[ Also Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he became king over Israel, and he reigned 2 years. [23], Some also point out that the relationship between the two men is addressed with the same words and emphasis as other love relationships in the Hebrew Testament, whether heterosexual or between God and people, such as ahava or .[24][25]. All who put their faith in Jesus as Savior take off their filthy rags and put on His robe of righteousness. 14), Jonathan and his armour bearer left Sauls army at Even if you have good friends Jesus always needs to be your best friend. 23:1518. Jonathan is first mentioned in I Sam. http://reformed-theology.org/ice/newslet/bc/bc.98.08.htm. Jonathan cherished David, Achilles loved Patroclus." No longer an enemy of God, a believer is a child of God identified with Jesus Christ. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. 1 Samuel 13:3, 4 Jonathan at Sauls accession Therefore, when David said Jonathans love was more wonderful then David was referring to sexual activity. 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. Acts 13:21, recording a speech by Paul In other words this ritual symbolized a clear commitment that each covenant partner would defend and avenge the other partner. 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. The same word is, for example, used of Joseph at age 17. Jonathan voluntarily gives the throne to David (v. 16-17). What do you think about 1 Samuel 13:1? [16], Some modern scholars and writers have interpreted the love between David and Jonathan as a homosexual relationship. <> 1 Samuel 20:16-17 (NASB). (Avot 5:16)"[8]. 2934 (Hypothetical) David kills Goliath. 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). Sauls kingship was not illegal (contrary to Anstey), but it was assuredly doomed. Conclusion -- Jonathan was at least 58 years old when he died and David As proper nouns the difference between jonathon and jonathan is that jonathon is a given name derived from Hebrew, an improper variant 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. Thus, Jonathan was about 30 when David was born (a matter worth paying close attention to). Now we are in a position to understand the meaning of 1 Samuel 13:1a in context. Than all kinds of spices! This is an important fact which reveals that knit is not the best translation. 2Sa 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. B&H Publishing. Proverbs 17:17 tells us that there are friends whose love is better than that of a brother. Now why did Jonathan do this? Test: Review Questions [6] David learns of Saul and Jonathan's death and chants a lament,[5] which in part says: Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life, And in their death they were not parted; They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! 2 Samuel 5:4 Sumamry of Davids reign And the fragrance of your oils The sum of these first two gives Sauls age at his accession to the throne in this case 38. 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. 8 0 obj How do you explain this? Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David, also his apparel, even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle. Gift from God covenant with him when copying numbers sexual taboo in the world! 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