If Saul had his sons close together then Jonathan may have been forty-two at his death but he may have been older. Make my garden breathe out fragrance, These two men were becoming fast friends. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt. These verses reveal that David was no longer safe as Saul was planning to put him to death. 1 Samuel 17:33 contrasts David . When Jonathan and David met, they had little in common. Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his fathers house. . It was not sexual. It is a variation on the basic Hebrew word for love, aheb. Saul is not a man of his word and doesnt keep his promises. Learning Activity #2: Activity pages for students to work on while waiting for all to arrive. Jonathan and David had a true friendship that was bound by their faith in God. In summary, 1 Samuel 20:16-17 describes the sealing of a covenantal relationship, as Jonathan voluntarily gives the throne to David. 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. A friendship of two people that centers around a love for God will be strong and will last a long time. As we have seen, the actual number of years Saul reigned was 40, which settles the larger chronological question, but which forces us again to consider what to do with 1 Samuel 13:1. Every week, thousands of churches use our Bible lessons, craft ideas, printable resources, and coloring pages to teach kids the Christian faith. When Jonathan and David met, they had little in common. Web1 Samuel 20:15, 1224, 27, 3142 Jonathan warns David of Sauls intent. During this time Samuel dies, and David marries Ahinoam and Abigail, Michal having been given in marriage to Paltiel. Preceptaustin.org) Samuel is getting old when he anoints Saul for kingship (1 Samuel 8:1-4). [4]. 9 (Edersheim). It means that a year after Sauls adoption by Samuel, or within that year, he became king "when he was one year old." This is an important fact which reveals that knit is not the best translation. Do this a few times with the children. Saul was probably around 40, since he had a grown son. "[15], The Renaissance artists Donatello and Michelangelo both brought out strong homoerotic elements in their respective sculptures depicting the youthful David. Jonathan would be subservient to David in his future reign. That is, this love is the common Hebrew word for love, with some intensity. rev2023.3.1.43269. In 1 Samuel 20 David has been hiding. How can we know the Messiah would be God incarnate? This means that most of the basic information points and reasonable suppositions about the lives of the individuals concerned can be met, and agrees with the tradition Josephus knew. 1, 2 Samuel. The New American Commentary. God set their friendship up. Thus I wanted to get your thoughts on this passage. . In other words they believe the David and Jonathan friendship was homosexual. 199-200. 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, . David is about 20 years younger than Jonathan, and is himself born a few years after the start of Sauls reign. http://preceptaustin.org/covenant_the_exchanging_of_robes.htm, Lesson: When Jesus Was A Child (Luke 2:41-52), Lesson: Why Do Bad Things Happen? Finally, it may well be that several diverse traditions concerning Saul were in existence, and that the forty year option was the one Paul had been taught. 1 Samuel 18: hold up ten fingers and then eight fingers. Chronological implications Saul would be around 60 at Gilboa. C4ktI)-O:26aW#(2v'>9jRvhMG(A#`P:wtt(HBV3~_3@zFZ[;$ ] ocyRAd2ssygO%p8 gQ{9k>eq. [31][32], The platonic interpretation of David and Jonathan's relationship is advocated by the religious writer R.A.J. Why was the fruit there? David became king when Saul died at the age of about 80, and Jonathan died at the same time, at about 60 years of age. 1992. vol. David became king. David came up with an idea to see if Saul was still trying to kill him. Jonathan loved David: give someone else a hug. So the balance of probability seems to favour a reign between 10 and 20 years. Jesus the mighty friend of sinners offers all who believe in Him, His robe of righteousness. The same word is, for example, used of Joseph at age 17. Non-sexual kisses have always been common in eastern cultures and other parts of the world from ancient times to the present. The resolution of the problem has bearing on how the book of Judges dovetails with the books of Samuel, as well as links with external matters. David's lament (the Song of the Bow) for Saul and Jonathan. When Jonathan tried to reason with his father he was so angry with Jonathan for being friends with David that he threw a spear at him. Now why did Jonathan do this? The covenant the two men had formed eventually led to David, after Jonathan's death, graciously seating Jonathan's son Mephibosheth at his own royal table instead of eradicating the former king Saul's line. 1 Samuel 20:16-17 (NASB). David and Jonathan loved each other, and they both loved and respected the Lord. However, none of the Hebrew manuscripts state thirty and forty, only the Septuagint. Once again thanks Dr. Oakes for your hard work and love for God. 2 Samuel 1:25-27 (NASB). A quick glance at the Hebrew letters used for the numbers will show that some of them are rather similar in shape, making the likelihood of a copying error particularly great. The episodes belong to the story of David's ascent to power, which is commonly regarded as one of the sources of the Deuteronomistic history, and to its later additions.[1]. 14:9 David was a young man at the time of the encounter with Goliath, during Sauls reign. Our website has teaching material for children of all aged starting with the church nursery (age 0-1 years old), toddlers (age 2-3 years old), preschool (age 4-5 years old), young elementary (age 6-8 years old), older elementary (age 9-10 years old), and preteen youth ministry groups (age 11-12 years old). Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-16, 19:1-10,20 Does sodomite mean temple prostitute in the Bible? The first reference to the friendship of David and Jonathan is found in 1 Samuel 18:1-4. This attraction is given extravagant expression. Which love depended on a selfish end? 2919 Birth of David. 1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NASB). Song of Solomon 4:16 (NASB), A more accurate translation would be Lover. He is a sexual lover involved in foreplay in verse 10 and sexual intercourse in verse 16. 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." There are two obvious problems with this verse. Sermons in Merced by Dr. John Oakes Ezekiel II Dramatic Symbolism. 23:1518. [12], Medieval literature occasionally drew upon the biblical relationship between David and Jonathan to underline strong personal, intimate friendships and homoerotic relationships between men. Saul retained David on that day and did not allow him to return to his fathers house. Test: Review Questions The comparison between Jonathans love and a wifes love is not at the point of sexuality but at the point of fidelity. Biblical heroic figures of the Kingdom of Israel, In the text, the attraction of Jonathan to David begins almost immediately, as Saul is delighted by his new companion. We believe that God is the loving Father of all kids. He went to the place that he and David agreed upon. http://reformed-theology.org/ice/newslet/bc/bc.98.08.htm. Sauls youngest son, Ishbosheth, was 40 (1 Samuel 14:49; 31:2; 2 Samuel 2:10). Judges 19:22 is another example, While they were celebrating, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have relations with him. Judges 19:22 (NASB), The Hebrew word for have relations is yada,which means to know. Yadais the normal word for sexual relations in the Hebrew Scriptures. We must remember that love between a husband and wife is multifaceted. Read 1 Samuel 18:5. Acts 13:21, recording a speech by Paul Lets turn in our Bibles to 1 Samuel 18 and discover an example of true friendship. 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. As Saul continues to pursue David, he and Jonathan renew their covenant, after which they do not meet again. The grammatical and social difficulties are pointed out in respect to 1 Samuel 18:21,[48] as well as the marked difference in the Bible between sensual kissing (as in Song of Songs) and the social kiss of Near Eastern cultures, whether in greeting, or as expression of deep affection between friends and family (as found throughout the Old and New Testaments). WebSome claim that King David and Jonathan were gay. Kisses between men and between women were also common in ancient times (Genesis 45:14-15; Ruth 1:9; 1 Samuel 10:1; Acts 20:37). This was the love of David and Jonathan. On that day a covenant was cut between the two friends; its terms we are not told but its practical issues stand revealed. This is how the translators of the original and new King James versions interpreted the clause, for they rendered it: "Saul reigned one year." (He was jealous of David because the Lord was with him), How did Jonathan protect David from being killed by his father? Did animals eat meat before the fall? How have the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! It occurs only thirty-seven times in the Old Testament. Furthermore, the phrase David has found grace in Jonathan's eyes, mentioned above, is not normally a reference to romantic or physical attraction, since in 45 of the 46 other occurrences it refers to finding grace either in the eyes of God,[41] of a ruler or wealthy landowner,[42] of a close relative,[43] of the father of a potential bride,[44] or of a nation. When David and Jonathan were alone they hugged each other and wept. What aspects about David do you think Jonathan saw that were similar to his own life? Jonathan would be about 53 at that time. The Expositors Bible Commentary. 2929 (Hypothetical) anointing of David at age 10. We even try to fix some of them. Their father was Samuel, and so at this point Saul was adopted by Samuel. Lessons in Ghana, Liberia, Cote dIvoire and Senegal by John Oakes Lessons in English and French. In other words they believe the David and Jonathan friendship was homosexual. You [David] are not able to go out against [Goliath] and fight him: you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth. 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 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. A campaign to relieve Jabesh Gilead from the Ammonites, ending with So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king.
age difference between david and jonathan