“Lamentował Dawid żałobną pieśnią nad Saulem i Jonatanem, jego synem” — Davidic poetry reproduced in 2 Sm 1,17–27 as a Biblical example of a lamentation poem

Abstract

The elegy in question presents and expresses in a poetic way the depth of feelings of a grieving man who suffers from the loss of his closest friends. The elegy belongs to the most illustrious achievements of early Hebrew lyric poetry and though it does not include distinct religious references in itself, it has to be understood within the context of the entire theology of the Old Testament that places God in the very centre of the life of the rulers of Israel and its people. The defeat in the battle so lamented in the Book by David himself is shown not as accidental or as a normal flow of things, but as part of God’s plan that, ultimately and paradoxically, helps the future king of Israel conquer his enemies and ascend to the throne. A characteristic feature of the lamentation is an exclusively favourable presentation of the main protagonists so that due honour, reverence and glory can be rendered to them. Therefore, the only way to treat the song is to consider it as one that expresses grief and mourning over the deceased, and not as a historically reliable review of their life. The way the lives of heroes is presented makes it possible to draw conclusions for the audience that may be important and may shape individual lives and their future progress. Undoubtedly, this is how David viewed his song to be delivered to the audience, as well: his access to rule the country was partly the result of the sacrifice paid by the two heroes slain in the battle.

Keywords

• elegy
• the Bible
• Old Testament
• the Books of Samuel
• biblical theology