Jonathan’s Loves, David’s Laments

"Providing a veritable feast for discerning readers, Dirk von der Horst deftly and masterfully weaves theological insights and musicological analysis, biblical exegesis and cultural critique, historicizing perspective and liberative summons in his tantalizing and immensely satisfying first book. Jonathan's Loves, David's Laments draws from each of these approaches but transcends them all, beckoning readers to pursue promising and audacious new directions for relational, queer theology." 

--Brent A. R. Hege, Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana



"This book is an interdisciplinary tour de force. Van der Horst mines theology, musicology, historicist vs. essentialist debates over biblical meaning and sexual identity, and the dialogical dynamics of musical experience to elucidate how musical afterlives of the David-Jonathan story inhabit 'irrefutable' spaces for homoerotic desire and queer identification within the biblical text. These musico-aesthetic riches redefine biblical authority and will allow theologians and activists to deploy 'Jonathan loved David' with even more intellectual integrity."

--Heidi Epstein, Associate Professor, Department of Religion and Culture, St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan