The Old Testament: 1 Samuel (and part of 2), III – Lot of Love between David and Jonathan

Posted on April 19, 2013 by virgowriter

I understand that some people are more observant than others.  I reminded myself of this fact when I read a recent cover story in Entertainment Weekly that profiled stars from the upcoming Liberace biopic.  This film examines the flamboyant icon’s life, part of which involved disguising his sexual identity—apparently he had a fling with a heterosexual woman at some point.  How anyone could have mistaken this talented musician for straight is beyond me.  But then again, homosexuality was not discussed as freely when Liberace was performing as it is now, so maybe people didn’t know a gay person when they saw one.  But maybe Liberace is a bad example.  After all, people know a lot of gay people without knowing their sexual preference.  Unlike with race, most people have to announce their sexual entity—well, some do.  Liberace wore his sexual identity like an expensive, attention-grabbing-rhinestone encrusted cape.  Maybe it’s just obvious now, since we’ve become so much more accustomed to the obvious clues.

In the book of Samuel (1 and 2), the relationship between David and Jonathan contains some of the obvious clues that what was between them was more than just an ancient example of a non-sexual bro-mance. These two were clearly in love with one another, though why people have not pointed to it as an example of Old Testament man-on-man love is not all that shocking.  If you’re going to say that the Bible says being gay is wrong, you can’t also have it contain a nice example of some homosexual love.

The affection/devotion between David and Saul’s son, Jonathan, is so strong that these two care little about what other people think.  Otherwise, you would think, they would have attempted to disguise their feelings for one another.  They don’t. Given how unique this relationship between two men is thus far in the Old Testament, it’s rather difficult to see it as something less than love.

We first see their bond forming when Saul orders Jonathan and his attendants to kill David (19:1). Because Jonathan is “fond” of David, he warns him.  Now, being fond is such an obvious clue of sexual love.  But their relationship deepens. When later David is fleeing from Saul, he runs to Jonathan for some insight into what he did to deserve his present predicament (20:1).  With phrases punctuated aplenty with exclamation points (a little too much passion for what they’re discussing), Jonathan pledges that he will do anything for David (20:4).   In fact, the two make a covenant with one another, something David does “because he loved [Jonathan] as he loved himself (20:17).

This is perhaps a deep expression of brotherly love between two men.  Since we’re not told other reasons why their bond runs deep, the clues we do have suggest passionate love.  This gets even clearer when, after Jonathan devises a plan to ascertain the depth of his father’s intent to kill David, they have an extra special emotional moment, complete with tears and kissing (20:41).  Since there has been little of this type of behavior depicted between men thus far, this stands out.

Their support for one another continues, when Jonathan arrives at Ziph to assist David (23:16).  Although his attention might be understood as his desire to serve as second under David when he assumes power, his affection is clearly the bigger motivator.

If this was so “wrong,” then why has God not stepped in and struck them down, perhaps afflicted them with tumors, etc.? And why have the people at the time not even remarked on it? As stories of Sodom and Gomorrah as well as the Israel tribe from Judges make clear, people were perfectly aware of homosexual sex. So they know it when they see it, right? As open with one another as these two were, this would have been impossible to ignore.

Sadly, their story has an unhappy ending, for in the beginning of Samuel 2, while mourning the death of Jonathan, in his lament, David says that Jonathan’s love “was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women” (1:26).  Hmm. This sentiment is placed in the context of David mourning Jonathan, who was like a brother to him.  But even still, a love stronger than that of a woman?  If there was no emotional or physical love between them, why would he compare the love he felt to that of a woman?

David has plenty of women to fall back on, so his heart goes on.  But he never seems as happy as when his true love was present.

Next Up: the story continues in Samuel 2.  Why’d they cut this in half? Is this what inspired filmmakers to take a story and cut it in half just because they could?

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The Old Testament: 1 Samuel, II – David and Goliath

Posted on April 17, 2013 by virgowriter

I inhaled books when I was a kid.  I had a large library (for a kid) but I tended to read and re-read the same books over and over.  One of my favorites was, The Value of Respect: The Story of Abraham Lincoln.  This “Value” series had twelve volumes, with each book devoted to an important historical figure. (Here’s a link to the Lincoln edition: The Value of Respect).  I was taken by how Abe learned respect from the key people in his life (his friends, teachers, and, perhaps most importantly, his family).  Life on the frontier was hard—though I don’t recall the pictures looking all that bleak—and people lived better lives if they respected others.  Naturally, since this was geared towards children, the important lesson Lincoln learned served him well later in life—like when he was president.  And here I had thought his best quality was his honesty.

The fact that the events were true—or close enough, in one of those Hollywood movie ways, where stories are “based on true events”—mattered little to me. It was a cool story. For all I knew, it was a fable, like others I had heard.

Another story I assumed was some fable just might have been true too.  I’d often heard of how little David stood up to the giant Goliath, and, against all odds, defeated someone significantly larger them himself.  It’s such a enduring story that it became a situational archetype—one that George Lucas even refers to when he discussed Return of the Jedi (The Ewoks fighting against the Storm troopers on Endor uses this archetype).

I had no idea this was a Biblical story.  But here it is in Samuel 1.  Much of what I’d had heard of the story is here.  Though I hadn’t heard anything surrounding this fight.

The Philistines have prepared to fight the Israelites at the Valley of Elah.  King Saul, however, doesn’t like his chances against the Philistine army.  Since apparently at that time, these types of battles were often decided with each side sending out a fighter and having them fight to determine a victor, The Philistines send out their giant of a bad-ass: Goliath.  For some reason, the Philistines humor the Israelites for 40 days: where’s their fighter? (17:16)

The youngest of three brothers, David should be tending his family’s flock of sheep.  But young David is drawn to the battle area, and even though he is rebuked by his brother for being there—he’s a little thing (just a boy), with a wicked heart for wanting to watch the battle (17:28)—David inquires casually about what happens to the man who kills Goliath—he’ll be rich, get hooked up with a wife, enjoy an ancient form of tax abatements (17:25).  He volunteers.

Plenty of people attempt to dissuade him, but he will not be detoured.  He even passes on the offered armor.  Instead, he chooses five smooth stones for his slingshot.

At the battle line, he gives a nice, short speech about God being on his side and then, just as it starts, it’s over: one shot to Goliath’s head and the giant falls.  David wins.  With so much build-up you almost wished they’d drawn this out, but there it is.

But there’s much more to this story—one man’s stupidity is another man’s bravery—than David overcoming a physically superior enemy.

Understandably, the fight makes David a celebrity.  Back then, it turns out you had to actually do something of value to become famous.  But, to his credit, David takes this in stride—he never forgets who got him there (the Lord) or who he needs to respect (the king).  Yet the action that saves Saul’s kingdom makes a jealous person out of King Saul. In fact, for most of Samuel 1, Saul hunts David.

David does a bang-up job avoiding the king, which shows his smarts too.  But out of all of his qualities associated with his fight against Goliath, the one that didn’t have a chance to surface and is perhaps MOST noteworthy of David is his compassion.  Most people would take offense at having someone being hired to kill you—okay, maybe it’s just me—but David doesn’t.  Given two opportunities to kill Saul (24:4; 26:7), David passes, choosing instead to respect the king (even when he shouldn’t).

Given how much David is trotted out to teach a lesson about believing in yourself, especially against bad odds, it seems that his story should be given more mention about his acts of compassion.

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The Old Testament: 1 Samuel, I – The Ark and the Birth of Samuel

Posted on April 14, 2013 by virgowriter

In Steven Spielberg’s classic Raiders of the Lost Ark, the ark is THE ark. Although when I saw this movie I had no idea what the ark really was—even given Professor Jones’ on-screen explanation. All I knew was that in the climactic scene when the Nazi’s opened it, a mass of energy escapes and annihilates the Nazis.  I thought it pretty ridiculous that some ancient energy was capable of such destruction, though this didn’t impact my love for this film.  It was, after all, a movie.

The ark has been in the backdrop of most of the Old Testament thus far—since Moses had it constructed (as per God’s meticulous instructions) and settled it in God’s Tabernacle. It crops up here and there to remind people that they should not touch or look at it too long.  But it was such a strong symbol of God’s power that people far and wide—non-Israelites—cowered before it.  Which, given the lack of an efficient way to convey information back then, this is pretty impressive.

The events in Samuel 1 illustrate how people trot this ark out like a football and then have it stolen as a trophy by the Philistines.  This is such a big deal, when Eli learns of its capture, he drops dead (4:18). Meanwhile, The Philistines are happy about their new acquisition, and when they bring it to Ashod, plagues afflict the people (the usual tumors, etc.) (5:6). So common sense prevails and the Ark is removed to Gath, and when those people endure a tumor outbreak (5:9), they ship the Ark to Ekron.  There, upon its entrance, the people freak out—news travels fast, apparently.  Those who did not die from panic were afflicted with sores (5:12).

Finally these people figure out that they should probably return the Ark to the Israelites, which they do along with some offerings.

For something that is such a big deal, it’s good that it has all the friendliness of radioactive waste when in the wrong hands, but you’d think God could dial this down when it’s among the people who worship it.

But maybe the issue is that Israel still can’t figure out their worshipping priorities.

Still unhappy without a ruler like every other nation, Israel asks for a king; annoyed that he’s STILL not enough for them, God delivers Samuel.

As a child, Samuel serves under Eli at the Tabernacle.  One day, at a time when few received visions from God, Samuel is called.  The problem is that Samuel does not know what he hears.  Once Eli teaches Samuel how to listen—how hard could it be, really?—Samuel begins his future-ruler-of-Israel journey. When he does assume power, he defeats the Philistines at Mizpah and then commands the Israelites to abandon their other gods (7:3). Israel’s enemies defeated (for now), peace reigns, and like a good politician, Samuel spend a lot of time touring the regions of Israel (7:16). He still is not king, though—he doesn’t want the job.

This poor guy.  Never a people to be happy with what they have, they pester Samuel for a king, and after consulting with God—he provides stern warning: tell them to be careful for what they wish—God will grant their wish (8:22).

This recurring story line is enough to drive a reader crazy—we know what’s going to happen, why don’t they?  But of course, we’ve gotten so used to the storyline it’s become a cliché.  This is just like when the bad guys get a hold of a dangerous weapon and try to use it; then we the audience know that it will destroy them before they learn this fact the hard way. Like when the Nazi open the Ark.

When I was a kid watching Indiana Jones globe trot after the ark for the first time, I realized this but I didn’t yet know why.  It would take a few years to understand how the audience anticipated events in a film.  People in ancient times were either too busy to study the mistakes of the past or they were just bad students.

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