1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 19:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The transformative power of love renders the violent gentle and the wayward pure, a truth that requires no elaborate illustration; it is universally acknowledged. Even a man whose ferocity rivals that of any wild beast can become more humble than a lamb through love. Consider Saul, who embodied fierce anger. When his daughter aided his adversary, he uttered not a single harsh word to her; despite having nearly annihilated all the priests for David, upon discovering his daughter's actions, he chose silence over offense. This restraint stemmed from the profound bond of love he had for her.

The term Melchol translates to 'kingdom,' representing the dominion that sin previously had over humanity. However, He who resides within the house escapes through the window. This window symbolizes the renewed path to light, brought forth by Him who disclosed Himself amidst the darkness and the shadow of death (Matthew 4:16). His empty tomb is reflected upon the bier, for even the angel declares to those searching for the Lord at the grave, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here; He is risen" (Luke 24:5-6). "See the place where He lay" (Matthew 28:6). Those who sought the Lord discovered the tomb that once contained Him to be void of the body they sought, holding only the burial linens. Thus, we believe that the empty tomb upon David's bier signifies the Lord's resurrection from the grave, and through this, the authentic liberation from death has been achieved for us.