this mutual attachment; they cannot be depicted in brighter or more touching colours than the simple language of the sacred historian: "The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul."* And when by the perverse jealousy and malignity of Saul, David was compelled to flee, and Jonathan had given him the concerted signal to this effect, "they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded."+ From this time onward, they appear to have met but once, when, during Saul's ungenerous pursuit of David, "Jonathan arose and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God; and they two made a covenant before the Lord." It was not long after, that David was called to give utterance to his feelings over the melancholy fate of Jonathan, in the exquisite elegy which we are about to consider; and the strength and permanency of his affection was manifested by the constant personal interest which he afterwards took in Mephibosheth, the only remnant of the family of Jonathan, and by the generous provision which he made for his support. The character of Jonathan appears to have been the reflex of that of David, full of deep and tender feeling, and of true affection under the most difficult circumstances. Indeed, the first advances in their friendship seem to have been chiefly on his part; as was doubtless natural, he being the elder of the two, and a prince of the reigning family. If he had less of that bold and determined enterprise, which fits men to become successful chiefs and leaders, he was at least not wanting in that daring personal beroism which challenges the admiration of a people. This is manifest from his romantic and successful attack upon the Philistines' garrison at Michmash ; and that all Israel looked upon him as their beauty and their pride,' is evinced by the manner of their interference on that occasion, to prevent the fatal execution of the rash vow of Saul. A few words only need to be premised, respecting the circumstances of the battle in which Saul and his sons were slain, in order to illustrate some of the allusions in the following poem. The Philistines had gathered their armies together against Israel, and pitched in Shunem in the great plain of Esdraelon ;** * 1 Sam. 18: 1. 20: 11 sq. † 1 Sam. 23: 16 sq. 1 Sam. 14: 24 sq. 45. 1 Sam. 20: 41. § 1 Sam. 14: 1 sq. while Saul gathered all Israel and pitched on the mountains of Gilboa, which skirt the plain on the east, and separate it from the valley of the Jordan. Saul at this time was in great despondency. The Lord had forsaken him, and answered him not; and in his distress he had rashly applied to the sorceress of Endor. There the spirit of Samuel had appeared to him and announced his fate: "The Lord will deliver Israel with thee into the hands of the Philistines; and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me."* Saul returned the same night to his camp; in the meantime the Philistines had advanced in the plain to Aphek, while the Israelites descended from the mountain as far as to a fountain in the eastern part of the plain.t Here the battle commenced; with what feelings on the part of Saul may be imagined. "The Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa." The four sons of Saul, including Jonathan, were slain; and Saul himself wounded. What wonder, that in his anguish and despair, he should call upon his armour-bearer to slay him, or should himself fall upon his own sword? It was indeed a day of darkness and of calamity to Israel. The inhabitants of the adjacent cities forsook them and fled, and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. The sad intelligence was brought to David and his companions at Ziklag, a place three days' journey from the plain of battle towards the South West. It was communicated by an Amalekite, who claimed to have slain Saul at his own request, and produced his crown and bracelet as tokens of the truth of bis words. The blow was sudden, and probably unexpected. "Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him. And they mourned * 1 Sam. 28: 19. 1 Sam. 29: 1. Perhaps the fountain mentioned by Dr Richardson; see Bibl. Repos. I. p. 601. 1 Sam. 31: 1. § 1 Sam. 30: 1. The seeming inconsistency of the Amalekite's narrative with 1 Sam. 31: 4-6, may be removed in two ways; either by supposing the Amalekite to have invented his story in the hope of obtaining favour with David; or by supposing that Saul did not immediately die after falling on his own sword, but rose up again. The latter would seem to be implied in the language ascribed to Saul in 2 Sam. 1:9, and also from v. 10. and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword." In immediate connexion with this, the sacred historian proceeds to say: "And David lamented this lament over Saul and over Jonathan his son. Also he bade teach the children of Judah [this song of] THE Bow :* lo! it is written in the book of Jasher.”+ From a review of all the circumstances, it is apparent, that although in bewailing the calamities of his country, the poet would naturally be led to introduce Saul as its prince and champion, yet his thoughts would instinctively turn to his tried and faithful friend and brother, the affectionate, the heroic Jonathan, the pride of his country, thus cut off with his brave companions by an untimely fate. We are now prepared to enter upon this pathetic Lamentation. name Book of Jasher, got up in England a century since and recently attempted to be revived, has been fully exposed by Mr Horne. TRANSLATION. 19 Beauty of Israel, slain upon thy mountains! How are the mighty fallen! 20 Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Askelon; Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 21 Mountains of Gilboa ! No dew, nor rain upon you, Nor fields of offerings! For there was cast away the shield of the mighty, 22 From the blood of the slain, from the flesh of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, The sword of Saul returned not in vain. 23 Saul and Jonathan were loving and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions. 24 Daughters of Israel! weep over Saul; Who clothed you in scarlet with delights, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel. 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, slain upon thy mountains! 26 Wo is me for thee, my brother Jonathan! Very pleasant hast thou been to me; Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women! 27 How are the mighty fallen! And the weapons of war perished! |