2 Samuel 1:17

“And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son.] Composed the following elegy on account of their death, and sung it in a tune agreeable to it, he and the men that were with him.”

“DAVID LAMENTS SAUL AND JONATHAN. (Sa2 1:17-27) David lamented with this lamentation--It has always been customary for Eastern people, on the death of great kings and warriors, to celebrate their qualities and deeds in funeral songs. This inimitable pathetic elegy is supposed by many writers to have become a national war song, and to have been taught to the young Israelites under the name of "The Bow," in conformity with the practice of Hebrew and many classical writers in giving titles to their songs from the principal theme (Psa 22:1; Psa 56:1; Psa 60:1; Psa 80:1; Psa 100:1). Although the words "the use of" are a supplement by our translators, they may be rightly introduced, for the natural…”

“The words lamented and lamentation must be understood in the technical sense of a funeral dirge or mournful elegy. (See similar dirges in 2 Samuel 3:33-34; and 2 Chronicles 35:25.) This and the brief stanza on the death of Abner are the only specimens preserved to us of David’s secular poetry. return to 'Top of Page'”

“lamented: Sa2 1:19; Gen 50:11; Ch2 35:25; Jer 9:17-21 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 1:18”

“David's elegy upon Saul and Jonathan. - An eloquent testimony to the depth and sincerity of David's grief for the death of Saul is handed down to us in the elegy which he composed upon Saul and his noble son Jonathan, and which he had taught to the children of Israel. It is one of the finest odes of the Old Testament; full of lofty sentiment, and springing from deep and sanctified emotion, in which, without the slightest allusion to his own relation to the fallen king, David celebrates without envy the bravery and virtues of Saul and his son Jonathan, and bitterly laments their loss. "He said to teach," i.e., he commanded the children of Judah to practise or learn it. קשׁת, bow; i.e., a song…”