For those not aware, I'm named after the biblical Jonathan, found in 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel in the Bible. My namesake was the son of King Saul and close friend of King David. In fact, the relationship between David and Jonathan is one most interesting biblical relationships.
You might ask why I'm mentioning all this. Well bare with me just a little longer.
I was an avid follower of "Kings" the show on NBC that lasted only a single, shortened season... producing just 13 episodes before being cancelled by NBC. (Yet another good show to die young from NBC's mismanagement. But I digress.) Anyways, "Kings" was based on the books of 1 and 2 Samuel... and took much of their characters, settings, and plot lines from those Scriptures. They took many creative liberties with them, of course. One of those liberties (or so I thought) was the fact that the character if Jack (who was the King's son and was based on the biblical Jonathan) was a closeted homosexual in the context of the show.
Now here is where we finally come back to relevance. Jonathan is said to "love" David in the Bible. Most historians and of course mainstream religious interpretation of the relationship call this one of platonic love. But more modern scholars and writers and now interpreting this as a case of homoeroticism... and possibly even labeling Jonathan and David and homosexuals.
David (yes, the same one who slays Goliath) is brought before King Saul to celebrate his triumph over Goliath and here is where he first meets Jonathan... who is said to take an immediate liking to him. They also made a covenant...
1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. - NIV Bible, 1 Samuel 18:1-4
Later on, King Saul is angered at his son, Jonathan, when he has let David go to his family instead of forcing him to attend the King's dinner table...
30 Saul's anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? - NIV Bible, 1 Samuel 20:30
The word "sided" here is a translation of the word "behar" which also translates into "choosing" and sometimes indicates a permanent choice such as a firm relationship. And finally, David's praise of Jonathan upon hearing of his death...
26 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
more wonderful than that of women. - NIV Bible, 2 Samuel 1:26
All these passages seem to indicate there was more to the relationship than simply platonic affection. The above passage especially seems to bring out the fact the Jonathan was in love with David... having more love for him than he has with women.
So in fact, "Kings" on NBC may not have been so far from the Scripture or taken as much liberty as one might have originally thought... at least in this regard. And more to the point... my namesake appears to be the only instance where homosexuality is allowed and the participant is not killed or a city destroyed by God... as was the case with Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. Jonathan is in fact killed by the Philistines in 1 Samuel 31:2...with Saul's other sons. While David becomes King of Israel and an ancestor to Jesus, our Savior.
And why did I post all this? Just some random thoughts on my name... and it's ironic link to my homosexuality. :)
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