(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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2 Samuel 1:17–27, “And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son: (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.) The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”
David genuinely loved the Lord and His chosen nation Israel. He grieved over the fact that the Lord’s Name was dishonoured by the great defeat at Gilboa and he sorrowed over Saul’s, the Lord’s anointed, death. As the sweet singer of Israel David felt it was important to compose a Lament over the death of Saul and Jonathan. Jonathan was also one of David’s best friends and strongest supporters during his lifetime. The Lament was composed to sung as a memorial to Israel’s first king in the future the Israelis would be able to compose this song and take a warning. Saul had not put the Lord first in everything that he did, Saul was a king like the kings of the neighbouring nations and Israel needed to remember the pain that choosing this kind of king had caused them.
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