Was Jonathan David's great friend

Answer 1

A:

Jonathan is described as Saul's son, who distinguished himself against the Philistines. He would certainly seem to be a great friend to David, even saving David's life when King Saul sought to kill him. When we look deeper, we see that Jonathan seems to have developed a homosexual fondness for David, as some passages suggest, for example 1 Samuel 18:1: "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" and 2 Samuel 1:26: "I am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me; thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women."

In 1 Samuel 20:30 we find that Saul has become aware of their relationship: "Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?"

The Book of Chronicles, although largely based on the Deuteronomic History, judiciously omits this material.

The existence of a possible homosexual relationship between Jonathan and the future King David complicates our understanding of their friendship. Ordinarily the risks Jonathan took to save David would show considerable courage and altruism, evidence of a great friend. Of course, lovers are usually also friends, but Jonathan's motives would be different.