David and Jonathan: A Case of Unconditional Love?

Abstract

This article demonstrates that if there was love between Jonathan and David, it was primarily Jonathan's love for David; or at least, that it was a relationship based on both parties’ personal interests. Jonathan, under the guise of this love, seeks to obtain guarantees for private interests associated with his own future and that of his family and descendants. David, in turn, is concerned about his public image. He never expresses any sentiment for Jonathan; nowhere does the book of Samuel even hint that David returns Jonathan's love. Even when David, after Jonathan's death, pours out his soul in his lament and says: ‘I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me’ (2 Sam. 1.26), he is not expressing sincere grief. Instead, the purpose of the lament is to enhance Jonathan's image after his death, in keeping with custom (de mortuus nil nisi bonum). It is also plausible that his mourning is a calculated pose, intended to impress the people and persuade them that he is deeply grieved by the death of the previous king's son, with all this implies.