David, Jonathan, and Michal

Enough speculation has been cast on the type of relationship between King David and Jonathan (Bruce L. Gerig does an excellent and one of the most detailed examinations of the relationship in several parts). It's a friendship all believe, and a relationship most don't want to see. An interesting angle has been ignored though, that of Jonathan's sister Michal.

The dynamics of the three, David, Jonathan, and Jonathan's sister Michal is very telling. The Bible says both loved David and both helped David become king, but it was Jonathan and not Michal who openly stood up to their father in the court, infuriating Saul to the point of almost causing his death. Michal, on the other hand, lies to save her own skin after she helps David escape. Notice David never invited her to come along with him or cared about the consequences of what might happen to her if Saul found out the truth of his escape?

After Saul dies in battle, David makes secret negotiations with a General in Saul’s army to take the throne. David says bring “Michal, daughter of Saul” not “Michal, my wife.” The one time he does address her as wife, he’s quick to follow it with how many "foreskins" he had to get to make her his bride. 

David knew having Saul’s daughter next to him in the palace would help his claim to the throne. She was the political pawn David needed and from all other indication from the narrative, nothing more. Contrast that with the language of the feelings between David with Jonathan with Jonathan saying; “Whatever your soul desires, that I will do.” And David; “Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in your eyes” and the famous line; “Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” Understand that a friendship between a man and a woman was unheard of during the time of the ancient world that they both existed in, so no other context is left but a sexual love.

Between Jonathan and Michal the Bible is very clear, David accepted the love of only one and it was the love from Jonathan. David was a slave to his feelings and would have in his heart whomever it was; whatever the object of his affection, be it Jonathan or the wife of another man, without care or the consequences if it pleased his God. The reasoning that David would never commit the sin of homosexuality with Jonathan is no argument if he didn't also commit murder and adultery, acts that also played out from his desires. I don't believe David was gay or even bisexual, but Jonathan, going to the original language, was "smitten" when he first saw David. Knowing the love Jonathan had for him, a love that was so deep for him, Gerig makes the indisputable case from the meanings behind the Biblical wording, David gave what Jonathan wanted when Jonathan gave himself to him.

The Bible story ends the David and Jonathan story in saying when David danced in the streets after bringing back the Ark of the Covenant, Michal looked out the window and became furious with contempt saying (paraphrasing); “How glorious the King of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the servant girls like a man whore!” With David shooting back (paraphrasing again); “And I'm willing to look even more silly than this, but these same girls you're bad mouthing me to now? Will remember me with honor later." 

How the now disillusioned Michal lived the rest of her life is unknown. The Bible writers hint that the marriage was never consummated. 

If Jonathan had lived, we can only guess what kind of relationship it would have been known for the ages. The love hints and homoeroticism the Biblical writers DID include says more about the relationship than the blatant sexual description they purposely left out for their king and hero they wanted to put in the best light.

Michal was a poor substitute for Jonathan when Jonathon died in battle and David knew it, but sadly, so did Michal.