2 Samuel 1:19 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places— As Jonathan's death touched David the nearest, it was natural that he should be the first object of his lamentation. Beauty or glory of Israel, slain upon thy high places! And to put it out of all doubt that Jonathan is here meant, he varies it in a subsequent verse. Jonathan, slain in thine high places! How are the mighty fallen! "How untimely and lamentably Jonathan; how sadly and shamefully Saul, by his own hand." This death, as it was matter of just reproach upon Saul, he knew would be matter of more triumph with the enemy. He could not bear the thought of this infamy to his country and his king; and therefore he breaks out into that beautiful apostrophe; tell it not in Gath, &c. for of all things grief is most impatient of reproach and mockery. See Lamentations 1:21. Kennicott would render this verse thus: O beauty of Israel! a warrior on thine high places. And he asks, "Can any thing be more worthily conceived, or more happily expressed, than this applause given by David to his dear friend Jonathan,—the ornament and defence?" But how are the mighty fallen! since Saul and Jonathan also are slain in battle. Whoever recollects the preceding history of David, will see the truest nature in his thus breaking forth in the praise of Jonathan only, and that without naming him here at first; and then in his decently lamenting the king and the prince together. And that the first break was thus expressive of Jonathan's praise only, is evident from 2 Samuel 1:25 where the same words are repeated, and Jonathan's name is expressly mentioned. But how languid and mean are the several translations of this first exclamation at present! The English translation above is, the beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: but whose high places? And then the lamentation couched in the next words, how are the mighty fallen, or slain! is entirely anticipated by the term slain, which is read in the words before them. It seems, therefore, but reasonable, that we should render the word חלל chalal, not as a verb, but as a noun, signifying a warrior; which will give beauty not only to this verse, but to another in this celebrated dirge.