The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 30

chorus, twice repeated; and falls into three sti·ophic dit1isiona marked by its recurreuce, either et their commencement (Keil) or their close (Kitto, • Cyclopiedia of Biblical Literature'); or, according to more common arrangement, into five or six stanzas, "The putting of lamentations into poems made them the mo1-e moving e.nd affect- ing, and the mote lBBting" (MRtthew Henry). IY. IN BUDSTANOE and general character it i, an outburst of natural grief (as the 11ong of H1tnne.h was of spiritllll.l gladness) over the fallen heroes, and & celebration of their worth. "We can hardly call it religious poetry. It is not a psalm or hymn. 'l'b~ name of God never occurs in it. It is a war-song which sums up the national feelings of every age over the graves of it.~ departed heroes" (Stanley). Yet it is instinct w:!tb most generous and devout feeling. "As in view of the remains of a fr:iend all the pain which be caused us while living is forgotten in the remembrance of his excellences and the kindness which be showed us, so David no longer has o. memory for the period of persecution now past. He is a man, and not the judge of the dead. Therefore Saul stands before him only in his virtues, and he celebrates not only Jonathan, bnt also Saul, as loved ones who can· n!!ver be forgotten. We see in this case that anger belongs only to the accidental utterances of noble souls, whose constant motive is love " (Delitzsch, ' Old Test. Hist. of Redemption'). "Though God often reproved his ancient people for paying religious homage to the idols of. the heathen, yet we never find that he reproved them for paying funeral honours to departed men 'of superior merit among their ow!l nation. Their example in this respect, therefore, seems to have a Divine sanction, and plainly teaches us the propriety of lamenting the death and commemorating the virtues of those who have been eminently useful in life" (N. Emmons).-D. Vers. 19-27.-David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan. In this lamentatio~ there is- I. A DECLA.li.ATION OF THE CAUSE OF MOURNING • .. 0 pride of Israel, on thy high places slain I AuuJ jaJJ,en a.re the heroea." (Ver, 19.) This is the key-note. It contains "the theme of the entire ode.~• 1. Men of rid'i. endowments are the ornament, beauty, and glory of a people. 2. Such men are some- times stricken down suddenly and under unexpected. circumstances. " Not on the level plains where defeat from the chariots and horses of the enemy might have been expecte~ and had beeJl ~fore encountered, but on the high places where victory seemed 'the rightful prize of the mountain chiefs &Dd the indomitable infantry -of the Israelitish hosts "-there the towering form of Saul was "hit by the archers" (1 Sam. :x.xxi. 3), the heroic heart of Jonathan thrust through. the splendour of Israel eclipsed. "AH flesh is grass, and all the goodlinees thereof is as the flower of the field," etc. (Isa. xl. 6,:7,; Jer. ix. 23, 24). 3. Their loss is a great calamity, and a source of bitter grief to those who form a proper estimate of their worth, and possess a genuine concern for the public good (ver. 12). I!. A DEPRECATION OF THE TB.IUllPB OF TH& ENEMY. " Tell it not in Gath, Publish not the tidings in the streets of Askelon ; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exalt." (Ver. 20.) 1n i.m.a,,,aination the poet sees the swift-footed messengers bearing the tidings to the nearest cities of the Philistines-to Gath and Askelon; hears their songs of victory, and, in sympathy with his people, he utters the wish, "Oh that it might not hove been!'.' 1. The fall of men of eminence among the people of God causes exultation among their adversaries. 2. 'l'he triumph of the wicked (the "uncircumcised") increases the suffer- Ing and shame of the godly in their misfortunes (Ps. xliv. 9-26; cu.:iii. 4). 3. What- ever contribntes to this result should be earnestly deprecated by all who have a sincer~ regard for the reputation of the great, the welfare of the good, and the honour of God, That which makee the ungodly rejoice should often make the faithful weep, on. r. 1-:!7,) THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 27