Were David and Jonathan gay

Answer 1

One opinion:

Quite possibly, but it's more likely that David was bisexual. Back then, there wasn't nearly as much concern about men having sex with men, as long as they had sex with women, too. It's also not clear how old the two of them were when they were "friends". It's not at all unusual for kids in their teen years to "experiment".

Another thought:

There is no Biblical reason to conclude that David and Jonathan were gay. David had more wives than he should have had, and many children. He expressed a love for Jonathan, yet there is no indication that this was anything more than genuine love for another, as one would have for a dear brother. No activities between these men suggest that any homosexual acts were even considered.

Besides the overwhelming testimony of the Psalms in which David continuously praises God's laws, against which homosexuality is a perverse adulterous abomination.

"O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." (Ps.119:97)

Plus, if they had actively engaged in such practice... God would never have inspired this testimony in His Word: "...I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after Mine own heart, which shall fulfill all My will." (Acts 13:22)

Further addition:

It may be helpful to read the actual Bible verses in which David laments the death of Jonathan: 2 Samuel 1:25-26 (King James Version)

Answer 2

It's common for gay people to claim that certain prominent historical figures were gay, but in most cases it's impossible to prove one way or the other.

David clearly was not homosexual, since a significant portion of his troubles derived from his difficulty keeping it in his pants around women, most notably Bathsheba. He had at least six wives in Hebron, and later married more women (the number isn't specified) in Jerusalem. He had kids with a lot of these. He was also married to Michal the daugher of Saul, though he didn't have any kids with her, and that may have been intended mainly as a dynastic thing (being married to the daughter of the previous king strengthened his own claim to the throne).

As far as Jonathan goes, the one thing The Bible says with certainty about his own sexuality is that he had a son (Mephibosheth).

This doesn't, of course, rule out them being bisexual, or having a homosexual relationship early in life before adopting a more heteronormative lifestyle.

The Bible is fairly open about David's other sins, making him a great example of someone who sinned but nevertheless loved God so strongly that God forgave him (though didn't always let him go unpunished for his sins). It seems therefore at least plausible that if David and Jonathan hadhad a homosexual relationship, it would have been mentioned (to provide yet another example of God's grace in forgiving David). So, based on the preponderance of evidence, I'm going to go with "no."

The modern term "bromance" has been coined for close personal affectionate relationships between men that don't necessarily involve sex. Though it's a modern word, the concept is pretty old, and is probably a better description of David and Jonathan's actual relationship than "homosexual" would be.

Answer 3

No. The Israelites, including Jonathan and King David, were heterosexual. Marriage (male to female) was an ideal, and virtually everyone was married. Male+male sexual intercourse was a crime that was abhorred (Leviticus 18:22).The love between David and Jonathan was not at all sexual in its nature and has nothing to do with the subject. It could be invoked only in an artificial attempt to impose something sexual upon the text that is not there.
See also:

More about King David

Answer 4

no