2 Samuel 1:17-18 – Don’t be ensnared by negative memory

Israel was defeated in her battle with the Philistines at the valley of Jezreel. Many including Saul, his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, were killed and their bodies found on Mount Gilboa. Of all those who died in that battle, Saul and Jonathan were the two persons who affected David most. We note that in life, there was no love lost between him and Saul but now in death, he felt deeply for him. At best most would not talk about it, and at worst they would gloat over it. But David was different. He was not only a magnanimous man but also a very affectionate one. He set aside what Saul did to him and spoke only of him gloriously here. Of course, needless to say, we would expect him to feel even more emotional about Jonathan’s death. For he was his bosom friend, whose soul was knitted to his as one. Having dealt with the Amalekite who brought the news of their death, David then went into mourning.

According to verse 17, David chanted a lament about Saul and Jonathan’s death. The words of the chant were captured in verses 19-27. David not only chanted the dirge himself, but he also instructed that the chant be taught to the children of Judah. It was a funeral song poetically written.  This kind of writings is commonly known as a dirge. Before we go into the dirge, let us consider why it was written and where it could be found. David wanted the future generation of Judah to remember and eulogize Saul and Jonathan. So he had this written and recorded in a book known as the book of Jashar.

What is the book of Jashar?  It was most likely a book that contained compilations of songs written in praise of the heroes of Israel. This book was also mentioned in Joshua 10:12-13, where the sun stood still at Aijalon for Joshua to finish off the Amorites. We are now told that this song of the bow, the dirge David wrote concerning the death for Saul and Jonathan, was also found in this book. Today this book is no longer found.

We understand if David only eulogized Jonathan but why Saul? All we can say is that David has shown himself to be a magnanimous man. Death had already taken everything from Saul. What good would it be to talk about his failures. Herein is something for us to emulate. Let the happy memory of Saul stay and the bad memory of what he’d done be buried in the grave with him. Dwelling on it would only bring a snare. No matter how badly we have been treated by someone, remember his good points but let the matter rest, and then move on with life.