"Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." - Ruth 1:16-17
Devoted Christians likely reflect on their moral codes -- which are intrinsically intertwined with religious beliefs -- when voting on controversial issues.
However, most Christians are probably in the dark about the more contentious Bible passages depicting profound same-sex love. Prominent same-sex bonds emerge between Ruth and Naomi (Ruth I and Ruth II), David and Jonathan (1 and 2 Samuel), as well as Daniel and Ashpenaz (Daniel I).
The opening citation, unreservedly touching, refers to the relationship between Ruth and Naomi. Ruth 1:14 further details: "Ruth clave onto her." The Hebrew word "clave" is also used in Genesis 2:24, to describe a heterosexual marriage: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife: And they shall be one flesh." Although Ruth and Naomi illustrate a poignant union, there is no overt mention of physical love.
Yet, David and Jonathan's relationship emerges as both an emotional and a sexual union. First Samuel 18:1 narrates, "the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." In ancient Israel, the word "soul" represented a combination of the body and spirit, thus suggesting David and Jonathan had a physical and emotional relationship.
First Samuel 18:2 continues, "From that day, Saul [Jonathan's father] kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house ... and Jonathan made a covenant with David ... 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." Here, David moved in with Jonathan, while Jonathan also strips naked in front of David -- an atypical act back then as it is now. These actions again demonstrate an intense and physical bond between the two men.
Moreover, 1 Samuel 20:41 further recounts, "David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan. ... Then they kissed each other and wept together." And in 2 Samuel 1:26 when Jonathan passes, David pines, "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." Back then, to have a platonic relationship between men and women showed imprudence. David's relationships with women would have been sexual, thus it appears that David proclaimed both emotive and sexual love for Jonathan.
In refutation of these passages, detractors would cite the renowned Bible passages that seemingly proscribe same-sex love, such as Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13, as well as the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. In my next column, I will break down these erroneous interpretations.
Nonetheless, the Bible illustrates conspicuous and rather poignant same-sex unions. Likewise, same-sex marriage ceremonies and erotic lyricism were widely documented in the Catholic world from the fifth century until the High Middle Ages, when theological despots began to thrive.
The next time any devout Christians must render judgment on same-sex relationships, they should reflect on these moving Biblical passages. God doesn't discriminate in affirming committed, consensual relationships; nor should we.
Write to Russ at
rjwebster@bsu.edu
Visit http://rjwebster.iweb.bsu.edu/index.htm
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