Lily wrote:
However, the bible does show glimpses of homosexual relationships that were not condemned. The most apparent attempt at a hiding of such can be found in 1 Samuel 20:41. The story read in 1 Samuel is that of Jonathan and David, and the homosexual relationship cannot be missed, from the pledging of their love and Jonathan stripping naked for David, to where it says Jonathan desired David (the same word used in Genesis 34:16, where it implies sexual desire. However, different English versions will change the word to "like" "fond of" or "delighted by")
The climax (forgive the pun) comes in 20:41. Biblegateway.com will offer many translations of this last bit, and if you look at them side by side it is easy to see the original Hebrew was altered to change the story. The endings are very diverse:
wept no more
cried the loudest
David exceeded
Some even leave out that the men kissed.
The Hebrew word used was gadal, which means great, enlarged, engorged, big...and the original ending was they wept and kissed until David became great or engorged. Plainly put, he got an -CENSORED-.
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There are other glimpses in the bible, too, such as Ruth and Naomi, where the Hebrew word used (to cleave) is the same as the word used in Genesis when a man leaves his family and cleaves unto his wife.
Or the story of two eunichs who fell in love with each other.
Have you read the context of the verses that you mentioned. When RUth "cleaved" to Naomi, it was when Orpah had just kissed Naomi Goodbuye and Ruth clung to here. THe same Greek word in also used in 2 Sam 23:10 to describe how a swords clung to David's hand in Battle, or in Jeremiah 13:11 to describe how a sash clings to a person. Neither of those references are sexual in context.
As for David and Jonathan, you might want to read the definnitions of those words more closley and not just pick out the ones you like because it suits your purpose, Exceeded-"gâdal
gaw-dal'
A primitive root; properly to twist (compare H1434), that is, to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride): - advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be (-come, do, give, make, wax), great (-er, come to . . estate, + things), grow (up), increase, lift up, magnify (-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly [spoken], tower."
Love-aw-hab', aw-habe'
A primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise): - (be-) love (-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.
(My Italics) Just because you want to think that David was a gay guy, doesn't mean that it is true.
Jewish culture is clear that it is ok for men to kiss, they kiss all the time, as well as the French, Spanish, and other cultures.
If you are talking about Jonathan being naked in front of David, the only reference I could find was 1Sa 18:4 "And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle." This is referring to a robe, which is basically what we would consider a coat. This is an act of friendship and respect as was common in the culture then, and still is now.
I'm not familiar with the verse about the eunichs. Could you tell me where that is?
My thoughts on what the bible thinks about Homosexuality is in Genesis. God knew that it was not good for man to be alone so he created woman. They are one together, and literally made for one another. Jesus quoted it in regards to how we are to behave when married. Gen 1:27 is what Jesus is quoting here.
Mat 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mat 19:5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh
God created them one female and one male, that is the order of things.