Ye mountains of Gelboe, let neither dew, nor rain come upon you, neither be they fields of firstfruits: for there was cast away the shield of the valiant, the shield of Saul as though he had not been anointed with oil.
הָרֵ֣י בַגִּלְבֹּ֗עַ אַל־טַ֧ל וְאַל־מָטָ֛ר עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם וּשְׂדֵ֣י תְרוּמֹ֑ת כִּ֣י שָׁ֤ם נִגְעַל֙ מָגֵ֣ן גִּבּוֹרִ֔ים מָגֵ֣ן שָׁא֔וּל בְּלִ֖י מָשִׁ֥יחַ בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃
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What fathers frequently experience when they depart from home, casting a somber glance at the path upon which they have borne their deceased son, David similarly expressed when he lamented over the mountains where Saul faced defeat. He proclaimed his disdain for that very location because of those who perished there. May it no longer be nourished by the rains from above, for it was once regrettably soaked with the blood of my companions.
Nature justly withheld its treasures from the locations of the impending murder, revealing through the unblemished earth the magnitude of judgment awaiting the guilty. The very elements of creation bear the weight of humanity's transgressions, prompting David to express a desire for the mountains where Jonathan and his father met their demise to suffer perpetual desolation: “Mountains of Helvu, let neither dew nor rain descend upon you, mountains of death!”
What mother grieves for her only child as he did for his adversary? How fervently he lamented, with deep emotion in his cries! The mountains withered under the prophet’s curse, as divine authority enacted the decree of the one who pronounced it. Creation itself was penalized for witnessing the slaughter of the King.
In this way, creation, by stripping the locations where the killings of loved ones occurred of their blessings, illustrates through the very cursing of untainted ground the gravity of the punishment reserved for the wicked. The natural world itself is tainted by human transgressions. Similarly, David lamented the hills where Jonathan and his father lost their lives, pronouncing them eternally desolate: Mountains of Helvu, may neither dew nor rain fall upon you, and may you be devoid of fruitful fields.
Why did David express his anger towards the mountains of Helvu? This illustrates the depth of his sorrow. Just as individuals in severe physical pain may strike their hands against walls or beds in their distress, this virtuous man, overwhelmed by profound grief, cursed the lifeless mountains.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS