LETTER: Close Friends

I am writing in regards to the misinterpretation of the Bible and misrepresentation of two major Biblical characters, David and Jonathan, found in the Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay Awareness Days '92 advertising supplement. It is clear that the writer of "Homosexuality in History" is mistaken in stating that the relationship between David and Jonathan is homosexual in nature from the incorrect misinterpretation of several passages of the Bible that describe this relations. First of all, Samuel 18:1 literally says, "Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." "One in spirit" means of a like mindset, mentally and spiritually. Jonathan loved David as himself the same way God commands all to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:31). Verses three and four show that David wore Jonathan's clothing and armor as a sign of their covenant of friendship with each other which is described in I Samuel 20:42. Secondly, Saul's jealously of David is described in I Samuel 18:5-9 and has little, if anything, to do with the friendship of David and Jonathan. When Saul does get angry about their relationship, it is clearly for political reasons; Saul knows that if David lives, Jonathan, Saul's heir, will never be king (I Samuel 20:30-31). Thirdly, Jonathan did help David escape twice from Saul's plots but, when eventually convinced that Saul did intend to kill David, Jonathan stayed with his father, even after Saul continued to pursue David. Also, Michel, David's wife and Saul's daughter, helped David escape Saul's plots as well (I Samuel 19:11-17). By the way, both David and Jonathan married and bore children. Fourthly, a departure of two close friends is a sad occasion. This was the meeting between David and Jonathan in the field, which explains the weeping and kissing -- a traditional Hebrew sign of greeting and departure. Fifthly, David's lament of Jonathan is simply stating that the love in their friendship was greater than any sexual love of women. Finally, the writer's misinterpretation and misrepresentation is not consistent with the rest of the Bible, which is consistent throughout. God never condemned their relationship, but He does condemn and punish the practice of homosexuality (Leviticus 18:20, 20:13; Romans 1:27; I Corinthians 6:9-10; Genesis 19, destruction of Sodom). Although most details of the relationship between David and Jonathan are not known, it is evident from the wording and context of the Biblical passages that do give some description that their relationship, although close and intimate, was clearly only a friendship, not a homosexual relationship. JASON SPANGLER College '94