The Love of David and Jonathan: Ideology, Text, Reception (BibleWorld)

Book Details

• Author: James E. Harding

• Publisher: Routledge

• Language: English

• Edition: 1

• ISBN: 9781138661141

• Cover: Paperback

• Pages: 464

• Release Date: 21-01-2016

• Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches

About the Book

The Love of David and Jonathan: Ideology, Text, Reception by James E. Harding offers a thought-provoking and scholarly examination of one of the most debated relationships in biblical literature. Centered around the intense bond between David and Jonathan as portrayed in the Hebrew Bible, this work interrogates the cultural, religious, and ideological interpretations that have emerged—particularly in modern discourse surrounding sexuality and gender.

Harding delves into the historical and textual contexts of the David and Jonathan narrative, asking complex questions about friendship, love, loyalty, and political alliances. He explores how these texts have been received and reinterpreted through time, including within LGBTQ+ theological studies, challenging traditional readings while opening new avenues for critical engagement.

Comprehensive in scope and meticulously researched, this book is essential reading for scholars of biblical studies, theology, queer theory, and cultural criticism. It provides not only insight into ancient texts but also into how narratives are shaped by—and shape—social and ideological frameworks across centuries.