Readings for Blessing and Wedding Ceremonies of Same-Sex Couples Queerly Interpreted

“

In the biblical contexts of the books of Samuel and in the book of Ruth, both with the homoerotic stories about the triangle between Saul, David and Jonathan (plus their women) in the books of Samuel and with the polyamorous story about Ruth, Naomi and Boaz in the book of Ruth, exclusive partner relationships do not exist, but multiple relationships occur. This indicates a different understanding of marriages and weddings than we have today. In the first encounter between David and Jonathan in 1 Sam 18:1–4, which is often used as a reading during the wedding service for a male couple, Jonathan pledges a life partnership to David (a name that means nothing else but “the beloved”). Simultaneously with Jonathanʼs repeated expressions of affection for David, King Saul takes this beautiful young man, victorious in battle, home and does not allow him to return to his fatherʼs house. This is why David might be compared to a newly married bride who moves into the household of her spouse. The telling names sustain a queer interpretation of Ruthʼs vow to be faithful to Naomi in Ruth 1:14–17, the reading for a female couple. From both a biblical and a present-day perspective, it cannot be ruled out that the relationship between Ruth, “the girlfriend”, and Naomi, “the sweetheart” or “lustful one”, is understood as erotically motivated. Clinging to her mother-in-law, Ruth swears lifelong fidelity to Naomi. Parallel formulations in the book of Ruth and the second creation account suggest, from a queer perspective, a quasi-marital relationship between Ruth and Naomi. The creation of sexually ambivalent figures in works of art from the second half of the 19th century in England offers additional queer interpretations of these biblical passages, remarkably homoerotic as they are: Simeon Solomon draws David as an effeminate lover of Jonathan at the oath of love (1 Sam 20:17), and Philip Hermogenes Calderon paints Naomi as a sexually ambivalent character in a heartfelt embrace with Ruth (Ruth 1:14–17).

”