David Mourns Saul and Jonathan

David was deeply affected by the news of Saul’s and Jonathan’s deaths.

He had lost friends and comrades in the battle.

For a time, he had led Saul’s army, and many of the slain were brethren.

David and his men tore their clothes and wept as they mourned those lost.

“This act revealed the true greatness of Israel’s future king. David mourned with genuine sorrow. Even though Saul had sought to take the life of his supposed rival, David entertained no malice toward him. . . . As a true Israelite, David mourned the death of the king, and as a personal friend he mourned the loss of Jonathan, whom he regarded with deep affection.” David composed a poem honoring those fallen in battle.

It loses nothing by translation into English and is found in 2 Samuel 1:19–27. The first part of the epic relates to both Saul and Jonathan (vv. 19–24), while the last part deals specifically with Jonathan (vv. 25, 26). “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!” (v. 19). Not wanting the news to be cause for celebration in the land of the Philistines, David pronounces a curse on the site of the battlefield: “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” (v. 21). Verse 23 is especially poignant: “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.” Jonathan stood shoulder to shoulder with his father on the battlefield and died at his side. Three times (vv. 19, 25, 27) David laments: “How are the mighty fallen!” He ends by grieving for his late friend. “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” (v. 26).

“True love consists in thinking of others, caring for others, and doing for others. . . . To Jonathan, the friendship of David meant more than fame and fortune.”