And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
The verse opens David's lament after word reached him that Saul and Jonathan had fallen in battle and died. It shows him grieving and mourning both men with sincere sorrow. The lament is a poem, showing that Hebrew sacred literature held poems of mourning alongside songs of triumph.
It is remembered as the Song of the Bow, honoring the two great warriors, and especially Jonathan. The poem presents it as a song the children of Judah learned, in memory of the weapons that failed in battle.
In the lament David recalled the valor and virtues of Saul and Jonathan and honored them. He honored Saul as foremost in courage and noble deeds.
He gave this honor and grief despite Saul's past hostility, persecution, and enmity toward him. His lament for Saul was an expression of mercy and magnanimity toward an enemy. It reflected his respect for Saul as the Lord's anointed. It showed that, despite Saul's long persecution, he refused revenge and trusted God for deliverance. He had loved Saul even as his enemy.
Jonathan's place in the lament reflects unselfish friendship, for David dearly loved him. Jonathan's death pierced David deeply, and the prospects opening before David could not console him for that loss.
The verse opens David's lament after word reached him that Saul and Jonathan had fallen in battle and died. It shows him grieving and mourning both men with sincere sorrow. The lament is a poem, showing that Hebrew sacred literature held poems of mourning alongside songs of triumph.
It is remembered as the Song of the Bow, honoring the two great warriors, and especially Jonathan. The poem presents it as a song the children of Judah learned, in memory of the weapons that failed in battle.
In the lament David recalled the valor and virtues of Saul and Jonathan and honored them. He honored Saul as foremost in courage and noble deeds.
He gave this honor and grief despite Saul's past hostility, persecution, and enmity toward him. His lament for Saul was an expression of mercy and magnanimity toward an enemy. It reflected his respect for Saul as the Lord's anointed. It showed that, despite Saul's long persecution, he refused revenge and trusted God for deliverance. He had loved Saul even as his enemy.
Jonathan's place in the lament reflects unselfish friendship, for David dearly loved him. Jonathan's death pierced David deeply, and the prospects opening before David could not console him for that loss.