Sons or Lovers

An Interpretation of David and Jonathan's Friendship

Jonathan Y. Rowe

• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780567656292
• eBook ISBN: 9780567306166
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

Jonathan Rowe examines David and Jonathan's friendship in the context of what ancient readers would have understood as the 'natural' loyalty to their families. He focuses on the conflicting moral goods between which the men choose, seeking to understand the dynamics of the narrative consonant with ancient society. Rowe discusses theoretical issues of interpretation and summarises how Bakhtin's theory of heteroglossic voices can be utilised to understand the narrative. He deliberates over the key aspects of family life in the world described by the Old Testament, surveys approaches to the study of the family among anthropologists and, finally, states how anthropology can inform the interpretation of the biblical text. Starting from the concept of 'hegemonic masculinity', Rowe examines how men in general are presented positively, and then shows how Jonathan, David and Saul measure up to these standards. Rowe concludes that although Jonathan was disloyal to his family, something that implied readers would have censured, the books of Samuel present this disloyalty as honourable, thus making a theological point about fidelity to the house of David.

Table of contents

• CONTENTS
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• INTRODUCTION
• Chapter 1. INTERPRETING DAVID AND JONATHAN
• 1. Hearing Voices: Reading with Mikhail Bakhtin
• 2. Family Practices: Reading with Anthropology
• 3. Interpretative Understanding
• Chapter 2. “REAL MEN”
• 1. Bravehearts
• 2. Profanity!
• 3. Spearmen
• Chapter 3. FAMILY FIRST
• 1. “Honour your father and mother”
• 2. Loyalty to Kin
• 3. Understanding David and Saul’s Family Values
• Chapter 4. FRIENDS FOREVER
• 1. The Loyalty of Love
• 2. Friendship
• 3. Understanding Jonathan’s (Dis)Loyalty
• Chapter 5. SHAMEFULLY DISGRACED
• 1. “Shall my honour be as shame?”
• 2. “Honour and Shame”
• 3. Understanding Saul’s Accusation
• Chapter 6. HONOURABLY DISLOYAL
• 1. Keeping Faith
• 2. Sons or Lovers
• Appendix A: RELATIVE AGES OF SELECTED CHARACTERS IN 1 SAMUEL
• Appendix B: COLLOCATION OF chlylh WITH OTHER ELEMENTS OF OATH FORMULAE
• Bibliography
• Index of References
• Index of Authors