Note BD — Chapter XVIII · PARAESTHESIA

Some of our hyperaesthetic sexologists, who see sex everywhere, try to construe the friendship between David and Jonathan as homosexual love. They find their inspiration in David’s lament over Jonathan: “Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” (II Samuel i, 26.) Whoever can see in this poetical expression homosexuality has very little sense for poetry and a good deal for sex. The Vulgata translates the verse: “Decore nimis et amabilis super amorem mulierum,” and then adds: “Sicut mater unicum amat filium suum ita ego te diligebam.” This word “diligebam” surely does not sound like homosexuality. Nor does the word ἀγαπή used by the Septuaginta, denote sex.