A Bible poem you didn’t learn in Sunday School
“I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan
you were most dear to me.
Wondrous was your love for me
More than the love of women” (2 Samuel 1:26)
You’d think God gave me
enough brothers — seven of them! —
but every one of them despised me.
After Samuel anointed me
to be boy-king — or king-to-be some day —
I was still the one to watch the sheep
while the oldest three went off to war
seeking their own glory.
When father sent me to the front
with a donkey-load of food for them
all Eliab could say was
“Who’s watching your little sheep now, out there in the wilderness?
“we know you and your wicked thoughts —
“you just came down to see the fighting!”
Out in the wilderness
listening for wolves and lions by my fire
I sang of women to keep off fear
imagining smooth thighs and long dark hair
but women always disappointed me.
My best songs I made up for you
the king’s son I’d never met — my heart’s secret brother.
With only your armor-bearer, my father told me,
you rampaged through the Philistine stronghold
like a young lion in a sheep fold
killing with each blow, mad with blood.
I dreamed of meeting you
I dreamed of being half as strong . . .
Jonathan.
Much later, sharing a wine-jug
on the palace roof
I told you how I’d feared to meet Goliath
but I never did confess
how much I trembled to meet you.
Almost as tall as Saul your father
(even Michal your sister over-topped me)
you were a lordly man, and gracious.
I fell to my knees, that first meeting
as was right before a prince.
And you lifted me up, smiling,
“Giant killer,” you called me
and laughed ’til I laughed too.
Saul had forbidden you
to go forth and fight Goliath
and you might have hated me for that,
but your heart was wide as palace gates,
set with precious stones.
Why could not the LORD have blessed us both?
Why couldn’t you have been my friend and counselor
as we both hoped?
Yet how could I have kept on loving you
if you had not been loyal?
If you had broken faith with Saul
your mad, dangerous, miserable father
broken by an evil spirit from the LORD?
Your splendor, O Israel
On your heights lies slain
How the mighty ones have fallen.
Do not tell the Philistines in Gath
Cry it not on the streets of Ashkelon
Lest their women gloat
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.
Hills of Gilboa, may no dew refresh you
And no rain fall upon your lofty fields
For there the warrior’s shield was besmirched with blood
Saul’s shield dimmed with dust.
From the lifeblood of the slain
From the hearts of warriors
Jonathan’s bow did not turn back
And Saul’s sword never returned empty.
Saul and Jonathan (Jonathan beloved and dear!)
In their life and death they were not parted.
They were swifter than eagles, mightier than lions!
Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul
He clothed you in scarlet and silver bangles
Embellished your garments with gold.
How the warriors have fallen in the thick of battle
Jonathan, slain on Gilboa’s heights
I grieve for you, my brother Jonathan
You were most dear to me.
Wondrous was your love for me
More than the love of women.
How the mighty ones have fallen
Shield and bow lie in the dust.
