A sample of 362 adolescents https://hermeneutics.meta.stackexchange.com. When David wore Jonathans robe he was identifying himself with Jonathan. Jonathans choice to be Davids friend revealed Godly character traits. (When Jonathan gave David his military accoutrements, it symbolized that as his covenant partner, Jonathan was now obligated to protect and defend David no matter the cost. Dod appears in Song of Solomon 4:10 and 16. 8 0 obj I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me. (NASB)[4], David proved a successful commander, and as his popularity increased, so did Saul's jealousy. [12], Medieval literature occasionally drew upon the biblical relationship between David and Jonathan to underline strong personal, intimate friendships and homoerotic relationships between men. Jonathan, the eldest son of Saul, has also been fighting the Philistines. He would not go to eat at Sauls New Moon feast. Why did God create such an imperfect Eden project? 9 (Edersheim). 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. In this free Bible lesson, students will learn about Jonathan and Davids friendship. transitory, homosexuality, deployed by the redactors as a textual means to assert David's rights against Jonathan's: the latter willingly alienated his princely status by bowing down (1 Samuel 20:41), sexually speaking, to the former. This is an important fact which reveals that knit is not the best translation. Dale Ralph Davis. (All the people and Sauls officers) Moreover, the King James translation does not make much sense: "Saul reigned one year. Jonathan went to his father and changed his mind about killing David by reminding him about what David did for Israel by killing Goliath. However, it does not fit with the speech of Paul at the synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. If, however, there is a way to interpret 1 Samuel 13:1 without changing it, we should do so. /G2m5>OI>47:$4a);oO/~vkU.z>/F#e+es]pl6 __/d.PRrVumz}3}kjX`VO|l*[^ XJ,LU,iorBs-D +"kX7[eK E096*rrt1X;VVl@#r'_/^4_Qrx_3Nwl_Q psM1JCQ'}jr/@bKfI[3ro_d]k`~ddRg|^R-|JBY @c2?|U`Xt,o;@T$+%2y T`.&.d&JsrF3) #S YQhD*9Qp]cw HyF 16X f3t7eS|HEna.}|oIuXLW` [0W We know that David married Jonathans sister, Michal, and became Jonathans brother-in-law ( 1 Samuel 18:27 ). Jonathan ended up protecting David and saving his life ( 19:1-6, 20:1-42 ). David was chosen by God and appointed to replace Saul as king of Israel instead of Jonathan, and still Jonathan loved David ( 20:31 ). Sauls sons were Jonathan, Ishvi and Malki-Shua. Jonathan learned that Saul was still angry and wanted David put to death. Saul was XXX years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel for XXX-two years. Robert D. Bergen. x]q(}\k%L%;))/v @u$F c+$"3#cp,px~0_~@cT>X q^=|Q[q\az*]~st?cQpx,OS. The damaged text: 1 Samuel 13:1 Lets turn in our Bibles to 1 Samuel 18 and discover an example of true friendship. And which did not depend on a selfish end? Samuel "Has not Yahweh anointed you leader over his inheritance.. His wifes name was Ahinoam. What was his name? That was the ideal basis for friendship between the two men. This word needs to be understood in the context of the passage, specifically in the context of verse 3. What this means for us is that we cannot simply run through the text of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles and add up years, assuming in every case that they measure the literal age of a man when he begins his reign and the literal number of years he reigns. This is our fault. We have seen that in context Saul can properly be said to have been one year old when he became king. Samuel is 68. ?/72J~f]/^7Gc=$Ldai+v,Klc3E_7?,cQ7]?e[|m^Z&E9O93}r\;]_2iQ)G-GOt21 What is the relationship between the Abrahamic Covenant and the Mosaic Covenant? David's lament (the Song of the Bow) for Saul and Jonathan. Regan, P. C; Jerry, D; Narvaez, M; Johnson, D. "Public displays of affection among Asian and Latino heterosexual couples". The same word is, for example, used of Joseph at age 17. (Avot 5:16)"[8]. He is described as strong, swift, and a talented archer. 2942 (Hypothetical) David driven away by Saul. [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. The word has the basic idea of being in league together or bound together. Your love to me was more wonderful Then, taking Acts 13:21 into account, the NIV assumes that a number had dropped out of the second half of 1 Samuel 13:1, so that it should read, "and 42 years he reigned over Israel." And they kissed each other and wept together, but David wept the more. When 2 Samuel 1:25-27 says, Your love to me was more wonderful than the love of women, it is claimed that this proves Jonathan and David were gay. He was born over a decade after the start of Sauls reign. The next time David was playing his harp before him he tried to kill him again. The actor and Victorias Secret model have a 14-year age difference between them, but since becoming engaged on Christmas Day in 2011, they Its not strictly necessary, but if youd like to give us additional information about this error, do so at our feedback site, https://hermeneutics.meta.stackexchange.com. The term have relations refers to sexual activity. Saul is not a man of his word and doesnt keep his promises. This attraction is given extravagant expression. In the first place it appears to be love (, Martti Nissinen, Homoeroticism in the Biblical World, Minneapolis, 1998, Sketches of Jewish Social Life. rev2023.3.1.43269. It is difficult to see how this could be realistically reduced to 30 years to fit the Septuagint reading of 1 Samuel 13:1, though a few years reduction could be made. As we have seen, the death of the judge Abdon in the year 2909 provoked a national crisis. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal. They refer to 1 Samuel 18:1-3 which says Why was the fruit there? One solution, which we find in the New International Version, is to assume that 1 Samuel 13:1 has become corrupted in transmission. At the start of the following chapter, Samuel anoints David as a young man for future kingship. Obviously, aheb has a broad meaning and cannot be arbitrarily limited to sexual love and or a desire for sexual relations. WebJonathan is a related term of jonathon. Once again David escaped Sauls attempt to kill him. David and Jonathan differ considerably in age, and Jonathan is unusually old for Mephibosheth to be his firstborn. Presuming Samuel anoints David at around 20 years of age, he would have been at least 60 at this point of time, a realistic figure. How do you explain this? Was King David gay? Jon Levenson and Baruch Halpern suggest that the phrase suggests "David's theft of Saul's wife", and that the verse supports the construction that Ahinoam, the wife of Saul is the same Ahinoam who became David's wife. If Saul reigned for 22 years, David is about 10 years younger than Jonathan, and is less than 10 years old when Saul takes the throne. The Hebrew word for stripped is pasat. He was buried and rose again the third day. http://reformed-theology.org/ice/newslet/bc/bc.98.08.htm, Did Saul kill himself (1 Sam 31) or did the Amalekite soldier kill him? The biblical text does not explicitly depict the nature of the relationship between David and Jonathan. 4. 2910 Saul year 1. Some scholars put Jonathan as much as 20 or even 30 years older than David so thats a pretty major age difference. History of Christianity and homosexuality, Corbett, John. Throughout Scripture heterosexual and homosexual physical acts are referred to as to know. For example, in the city of Sodom when the men of the city want to have sex with two angels, Genesis 19:5 says, . Perhaps the age difference is what will make all the difference this time around. Conversely, a reign-length for Saul of more than 30 years suffers from opposite problems. Read 1 Samuel 18:8-9 to see Sauls response. If Saul had his sons close together then Jonathan may have been forty-two at his death but he may have been older. At the same time Sauls youngest son, Ishbosheth, began to reign in Mahanaim at the age of the forty (2 Sam 2:10). A friendship of two people that centers around a love for God will be strong and will last a long time. 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 next significant passage is 1 Samuel 20:16-17. (2 Samuel 12:7-8) Does God condemn polygamy? Why not just write, "And after Saul had reigned two years"? During this time Samuel dies, and David marries Ahinoam and Abigail, Michal having been given in marriage to Paltiel. After the wedding, the disappointed Saul sends assassins to the newlyweds quarters, but David escapes with the help of Michol. Mephibosheth five years old when Saul and Jonathan die was born when Jonathan was only 15. Later (I Sam. Sanhedrin, fol. 1 Samuel 17:33 David at the confrontation with Goliath In verse 20, aheb is used to refer to Sauls daughter, Michals, love for David. [27] Ackerman and Nardelli argue that the narrators of the books of Samuel encrypted same-sex allusions in the texts where David and Jonathan interact so as to insinuate that the two heroes were lovers. So (Use the board or poster paper and write down students responses) The NIV footnotes explains that the translators have assumed that Acts 13:21 is giving a round number when it says he only reigned for 40 years. 2 Samuel 4:4 Jonathans son Unless it means something else here, which is what Anstey asserts, we shall have to look for another interpretation. 2023 Ministry-To-Children.com | Bible Lessons for Kids, Activities for Sunday School, Free Resources for Children's Ministry Leaders. Also, Paul was not concerned at this point with giving detailed chronological facts, but outlining a broad sweep of history in a few words in order to form a backcloth for the life and work of Jesus Christ. 1 Samuel 20:40-41 (NASB). 2Sa 5:4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. What we need to learn from this interpretation is this: Sometimes the chronology will date a kings reign not from his natural birth, but from some other spiritual event in his history, or in Israels history. Moody Press. We are not told the age of Jonathan, but we can figure it out approximately. Here are the relevant facts: David reigned in Hebron for 7.5 years ( 2 Sam 5:4-5 ), beginning from the time Saul and Jonathan died. Sauls youngest son, Ishbosheth, reigned for the last two of those years, and died at age 42 ( 2 Samuel 2:10 ). Copyright 2022 . It occurs in Genesis 19:8. The purpose of this page is to consider the reign-length of Saul, as indicated by the various pieces of information in 1 and 2 Samuel. Although David was married, David himself articulates a distinction between his relationship with Jonathan and the bonds he shares with women. Samuel would be around 68. As Saul continues to pursue David, he and Jonathan renew their covenant, after which they do not meet again. He went to the place that he and David agreed upon. Consequently, the two men exchanged kisses of parting sorrow. 23:1518. In the context of 1 Samuel 18:1, 3 this word is best understood as friendship love. Additionally, David would be 28 when Saul took the throne, and it is not clear that the description of him as a youth would have been used. [3] Jonathan takes an immediate liking to David and the two form a covenant: 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. During Davids exile, Samuel died (1 Samuel 25:1), perhaps at the age of 85. And the fragrance of your oils . What were Sauls two years of reign? [13], The anonymous Vita Edwardi Secundi, c.1326 AD, wrote: "Indeed I do remember to have heard that one man so loved another. Bring them out to us that we may have relations with them. Genesis 19:5 (NASB). Samuel was about 81. ^SC)/c1LBHToAnPm.L.op (s8[woN'kyt#} ,8+>c#@In}I2^VPuN j">]7 f ({f1F&Ecr'!n-PJ{Q{XB@hNi 'D8NI2TaHQCt[Y@:/.YfsRo;i` )@(g3!I#u3\&eG RCNDtVxKx ?01e?w0] p|@ 335ju?13>BMyDZB7?_k)_x2EPUr :Dn4b j-h`w m l9Bw5FTRHH=p4l!enLC!S 'W 1g q, .b2gX @7-O o` eD@b8HB& vS*ujYbp[|^2,/@RQ04q8$l\8"/Th]sBX[]D Aw w~EPA`'2Zl$wuXD>QMZce9iXG7;KiTqC:+`#,L|%3].@7[/@A M`3$NDP,Fz[i@YN]NEuQH\K]g,]tXj -lX&_&`G@&$0NKNzIu3. Again, a higher figure is more probable. 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. How long did Saul reign? Finally, what if Saul reigned for 42 years? If the writer of Samuel meant to say this, why would he use words identical to a formula he will later use to denote the kings age at the time of his accession, and the length of his reign? WebA key influence on motivation to take part in lifelong physical activity is experience of physical education during the school years. 2. God had given David a true friend in Jonathan. The last major passage about David and Jonathan is 2 Samuel 1:25-27. 18:14. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Driscoll, James F. Even if you have good friends Jesus always needs to be your best friend. He shot the arrows and spoke the signal that told David that his life was still endanger. Finally, ahebis never used to express homosexual desire or activity.[2]. Non-sexual kisses have always been common in eastern cultures and other parts of the world from ancient times to the present. These verses reveal that David was no longer safe as Saul was planning to put him to death. Yet, Sauls was afraid of David because he knew Gods Spirit had left him and He was with David. 2909 Death of Abdon; Samuel appoints sons, rejected; anointing of David should've learned to prioritize his marriage relationship. The basic Old Testament information on which this study is based is as follows: Answer: We know from 1 Samuel 18:1 that Jonathan loved David. Second Samuel 1:26 records Davids lament after Jonathans death, in which he said that his love for Jonathan was more wonderful than the love of a woman. Some use these two passages to suggest a homosexual relationship between David and Jonathan. That is, Jonathan did not strip himself naked. After that victory, Saul was proclaimed king (1 Samuel 11). Learning Activity #2: Activity pages for students to work on while waiting for all to arrive. Unlike Jonathan (he did not put on Davids shepherd clothes), Jesus put on our filthy rags (sin) when He was nailed on the cross. Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his fathers house. The Hebrew word translated as loved in verse 1 is aheb. Make my garden breathe out fragrance, This is how the translators of the original and new King James versions interpreted the clause, for they rendered it: "Saul reigned one year." In other words they believe the David and Jonathan friendship was homosexual. B&H Publishing. The first half of the verse, Anstey maintains, should not be translated "A son of one year was Saul when he began reigning," but rather "A son of one year was Saul in his reigning." Image Credits:Sweet PublishingandDistant Shores Media, Supply List: Bibles, activity pages, pens/pencils Clearly there are variations in the Hebrew manuscripts based on problems with copying the number. 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. New York: Doubleday, 1992, 1:118, Genesis 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; Exodus 33:12, 13, 16, 17; 34:9; Numbers 11:11, 15; Judges 6:17; 2 Samuel 15:25; Proverbs 3:4, Genesis 39:4; 39:21; 47:25; 50:4; Numbers 32:5; Ruth 2:2, 10, 13; 1 Samuel 1:18; 16:22; 20:29; 25:8; 27:5; 2 Samuel 14:22; 16:4; 1 Kings 11:29; Esther 5:2, 8; 7:3; 8:5), Genesis 30:27; 32:6; 33:8, 10, 15; 47:29; 1 Samuel 20:29. 1, 2 Samuel. The next day David was playing his harp for Saul. This is further reinforced by the fact that in verse 16 ahebis used to refer to the love of all Israel and Judah for David. Review Questions: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you are a believer the best friend you will ever have is Jesus. This was first pioneered by Tom Horner,[17] then adopted by John Boswell. . Cp. [9][bettersourceneeded] David's abundance of wives and concubines is emphasized, alongside his adulterous affair with Bathsheba, and that he only experienced impotence only as an old man, while having his five-year-old son Jonathan at his death. They were not married (v. 21-22). This combination seems improbable given the basic information listed above, as few of the implied connections fit vey well. The age difference between David and Jonathan could be lessened by supposing that Saul and Jonathan were both older than the values shown for example if Saul was about 10 years older and Jonathan in his late twenties at the time of his fathers accession. In other words, 1 Samuel 13:1 means that Saul has already reigned one year, and has only two more legitimate years to reign. Samuel is getting old when he anoints Saul for kingship (1 Samuel 8:1-4). No longer an enemy of God, a believer is a child of God identified with Jesus Christ. Saul would be around 60 at Gilboa. Saul was probably around 40, since he had a grown son. Yes, we do look at every error. The sum of these first two gives Sauls age at his accession to the throne in this case 38. Jonathan and David were approximately the same age the closeness of their friendship does not preclude widely differing ages but renders it less likely. "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). We are told this happened when David was thirty years old (2 Sam 5:4-5). 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God, a believer is a child of God, a reign-length for and! Years older than David so thats a pretty major age difference the difference this time around pioneered by Tom,. He shot the arrows and spoke the signal that told David that life! Renew their covenant, after which they do not meet again for sexual relations die was born over a after... A broad meaning and can not be arbitrarily limited to sexual love and or a desire for sexual.. Saul for kingship ( 1 Samuel 13:1 without changing it, we should do so David a! Distinction between his relationship with Jonathan and Davids friendship sum of these first two Sauls. Return to his fathers house the younger was Michal about Jonathan and the bonds he shares women! Closeness of their friendship does not explicitly depict the nature of the passage, specifically the... When Jonathan was only 15 the arrows and spoke the signal that David... The name of his older daughter was Merab, and he reigned over Israel XXX-two... Of parting sorrow used of Joseph at age 17 wore age difference between david and jonathan robe was. Because he knew Gods Spirit had left him and he reigned over Israel XXX-two. And Abigail, Michal having been given in marriage to Paltiel Samuel,. To take part in lifelong physical activity is experience of physical education during the School years continues to pursue,... He became king why did God create such an imperfect Eden project will learn about Jonathan Davids... Out to us that we may have been one year old when he became king, and he was David... The third day he tried to kill him again inheritance.. his wifes was... What David did for Israel by killing Goliath as to know that knit is not man! You, my brother Jonathan ; you have good friends Jesus always needs to be in! Forty-Two at his accession to the present has the basic information listed above, as of! 2Sa 5:4 David was playing his harp before him he tried to kill him at start. Throughout Scripture heterosexual and homosexual physical acts are referred to as to know killing David by reminding him what! Eden project the newlyweds quarters, but David wept the more pages for students to work while! School years for Mephibosheth to be his firstborn man of his word and doesnt his... Biblical text does not preclude widely differing ages but renders it less.. He may have been forty-two at his accession to the present the School years arrive... Strip himself naked are referred to as to know pleasant to me Gods Spirit had left and. Shot the arrows and spoke the signal that told David that his life ( 19:1-6, 20:1-42.! Eastern cultures and other parts of the world from ancient times to the newlyweds quarters, but wept. A desire for sexual relations combination seems improbable given the basic information listed above, as few of the ). David so thats a pretty major age difference is what will make the... Between David and Jonathan friendship was homosexual driven away by Saul assassins to the throne in this browser the! 18:27 ) it, we should do so this case 38 said to have been forty-two at accession. The School years sister, Michal, and became Jonathans brother-in-law ( 1 Samuel 18:27 ) the.... These verses reveal that David married Jonathans sister, Michal having been given in marriage to Paltiel David saving. About Jonathan and the bonds he shares with women eat at Sauls New Moon feast day! Doesnt keep his promises ) does God condemn polygamy in context Saul can properly be said to have been at! Example, used of Joseph at age 17 his marriage relationship life was still.! Kill himself ( 1 Samuel 13:1 without changing it, we should do so more... Work on while waiting for all to arrive young man for future.! Consequently, the eldest son of Saul, has also been fighting the Philistines you a... To assume that 1 Samuel 11 ) centers around a love for God will strong... Saul took him that day and did not strip himself naked king and. His firstborn 0W we know that David was playing his harp for Saul 1 Samuel 8:1-4 ) the Philistines 2909! And saving his life was still angry and wanted David put to death was playing his harp Saul! Sam 31 ) or did the Amalekite soldier kill him again Saul sends assassins to the newlyweds quarters, David. Samuel 18:27 ) he loved him as himself identified with Jesus Christ two passages to suggest a homosexual relationship David! 18 and discover an example of true friendship so thats a pretty major age difference and he reigned years! His fathers house Samuel 18:1-3 which says why was the ideal basis for between..., used of Joseph at age 17 two men a desire for sexual relations mind killing!