II Shmuel 1: And I Will Always Love You

David and Jonathan have had a very close relationship. From the moment Jonathan set eyes on David, “When [David]finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan’s soul became bound up with the soul of David; Jonathan loved David as himself” (וַיְהִי כְּכַלֹּתוֹ לְדַבֵּראֶל־שָׁאוּל וְנֶפֶשׁ יְהוֹנָתָן נִקְשְׁרָה בְּנֶפֶשׁ דָּוִד וַיֶּאֱהָבֵהוּיְהוֹנָתָן כְּנַפְשׁוֹ) (I Samuel 18:1). Jonathan saved David’s life multiple times, he snuck out in the middle of the night to visit David in his camp, and the two make a pact together that David would protect Jonathan’s offspring (וְלֹא־תַכְרִית אֶת־חַסְדְּךָ מֵעִם־בֵּיתִי עַד־עוֹלָם) (I Samuel 20:15). Jonathan knew his house was doomed, but he embraced the factthat David would be the one to carry on as king of Israel.In the first chapter of II Samuel (really thecontinuation of the unified book of Samuel), David sings a dirge in honor ofthe slain Saul and Jonathan. As to Shaul he laments: “Daughters of Israel, Weepover Saul, Who clothed you in crimson and finery, Who decked your robes withjewels of gold” (בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־שָׁאוּל בְּכֶינָה הַמַּלְבִּשְׁכֶםשָׁנִי עִם־עֲדָנִים הַמַּעֲלֶה עֲדִי־זָהָב עַל־לְבוּשְׁכֶן) (verse 24). Asto Jonathan: “Your love was wonderful to me More than the love of women” (צַר־לִיעָלֶיךָ אָחִי יְהוֹנָתָן נָעַמְתָּ לִּי מְאֹד נִפְלְאַתָה אַהֲבָתְךָ לִימֵאַהֲבַת נָשִׁים) (verse 26).Modern readings of the text suggest that Davidand Jonathan may have had a romantic relationship. That may be, but strongexpressions of love between friends is also not out of the ordinary.Commentators also offer different explanations for David’s choice of phrasehere. Radak explains that the love of a woman here refers to a love that isstronger than the two women who were David’s wives. This reading points toDavid referring to specific women. Radak has a second explanation that is moregeneral. The love between the two was stronger than the love a mother has forher husband and children. This second reading also explains the love here asnon-sexual in nature.The Malbim takes the reference in context ofthe dirge itself. The love is more than the love of the women weeping for Shaulin the previous verse. That is the weeping of the maidens for the king theynever met but who provided protection for them. The weeping of David forJonathan is authentic.Pirkei Avot also interprets the love as one ofdeep intimacy, but not of deep physical attraction per se. “All love thatdepends on a something, [when the] thing ceases, [the] love ceases; and [alllove] that does not depend on anything, will never cease. What is an example oflove that depended on a something? Such was the love of Amnon for Tamar. Andwhat is an example of love that did not depend on anything? Such was the loveof David and Jonathan” (כָּל אַהֲבָה שֶׁהִיא תְלוּיָה בְדָבָר בָּטֵל דָּבָרבְּטֵלָה אַהֲבָה, וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ תְלוּיָה בְדָבָר אֵינָהּ בְּטֵלָה לְעוֹלָם...זוֹ אַהֲבַת דָּוִד וִיהוֹנָתָן) (Pirkei Avot 5:16). Amnon has a sexualobsession with Tamar that leads him to rape his sister. That is strong lovebased on something. When that something is gone, the love dissipates as willhappen after Amnon rapes his sister. The love of David and Jonathan was pureand absolute. Their love was the kind of deep love that was not based onanything physical. Even after death, David laments his soulmate.