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Jonathan, the closing lines sounding like the last sigh over a loss too great for
utterance. Peculiarly touching is the absence in this elegy of even the faintest
allusion to David's painful relations to Saul in the past. All that is merely personal
seems blotted out, or rather, as if it had never existed in the heart of David. In this
respect we ought to regard this ode as casting most valuable light on the real
meaning and character of what are sometimes called the vindictive and imprecatory
Psalms. Nor should we omit to notice, what a German divine has so aptly pointed
out: that, with the exception of the lament of Jabesh-gilead, the only real mourning
for Saul was on the part of David, whom the king had so bitterly persecuted to the
death - reminding us in this also of David's great Antitype, Who alone of all wept
over that Jerusalem which was preparing to betray and crucify Him! The elegy itself
reads as follows:
"The adornment of Israel on thy heights thrust through! Alas,^241 the heroes have
fallen!
Announce it not in Gath, publish it not as glad tidings in the streets of Askelon, Lest
the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised
jubilee! O mountains in Gilboa - no dew, nor rain upon you, nor fields of first-fruit
offerings - For there defiled is the shield of the heroes, The shield of Saul, no more
anointed with oil! From blood of slain, from fat of heroes The bow of Jonathan
turned not backward, And the sword of Saul returned not void (lacking)! Saul and
Jonathan, the loved and the pleasant, In their life and in their death were not parted -
Than eagles were they lighter, than lions stronger! Daughters of Israel, over Saul
weep ye, Who clad you in purple with loveliness, Who put jewels of gold upon your
clothing! Alas, the heroes have fallen in the midst of the contest - Jonathan, on thy
heights thrust through! Woe is me for thee, my brother Jonathan, - Pleasant wast
thou to me exceedingly, More marvelous thy love to me than the love of women!
Alas, the heroes have fallen - And perished are the weapons of war!"^242 (2 Samuel
1:19-27.)
But the present was not a time for mourning only. So far as men could judge, there
was no further necessity for David's exile. But even so he would not act without
express Divine guidance. In answer to his inquiry by the Urim and Thummim he was
directed to take up his residence in Hebron, where he was soon anointed king by his
own tribe of Judah. As yet, however, and for the next seven and a half years, his rule
only extended over that tribe. It is further evidence of the entire submission of David
to the leading of Jehovah, and of his having fully learned the lesson of not seeking to
compass his own "deliverance," that he took no steps to oppose the enthronement of
Saul's son, however contrary this was to the Divine appointment; and that the contest
which ultimately ensued originated not with David, but with his rival. On the
(^)