An illustration of David and Jonathan from 'Sunday at Home – A Family Magazine for Sabbath reading, 1883,' published by the Religious Tract Society in London.© whitemay/DigitalVision Vectors ...

Jonathan eventually dies in battle, and Saul commits suicide. David composes a beautiful eulogy poem mourning both men, but his description of Jonathan is particularly striking: ...

Many translators read this passage to mean that Jonathan and David form a covenant, a pact. Jonathan immediately removes his clothing and weapons and gives them to the other young man.

As a religion scholar, however, I believe one of the greatest loves in the Bible is a story of friendship: the intense devotion between the warrior Jonathan and David, who later became king of ...