| Barnes' Notes on the Bible How are the mighty fallen - The recurrenee of the same idea 2 Samuel 1:19, 2 Samuel 1:25, 2 Samuel 1:27 is perfectly congenial to the nature of elegy, since grief is fond of dwelling upon the particular objects of the passion, and frequently repeating them. By unanimous consent this is considered one of the most beautiful odes in the Bible, and the generosity of David in thus mourning for his enemy and persecutor, Saul, enhances the effect upon the mind of the reader.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHow are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle!.... The mighty and valiant men of war, the common soldiers as well as their general officers, whose loss David mourns, and the repetition of shows how much it affected him: O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places; in the high places of the land of Israel, the mountains of Gilboa, which though high, and in his own country, could not protect him from his enemies, and from falling by their hands: he who had been so valiant and victorious a prince, and yet he fell, not in an enemy's country, but his own.
Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old TestamentThe second strophe (2 Samuel 1:25 and 2 Samuel 1:26) only applies to the friendship of Jonathan: 25 Oh how are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan (is) slain upon thy heights! 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Thou wast very kind to me: Stranger than the love of woman was thy love to me! 2 Samuel 1:25 is almost a verbal repetition of 2 Samuel 1:19. צר (2 Samuel 1:26) denotes the pinching or pressure of the heart consequent upon pain and mourning. נפלאתה, third pers. fem., like a verb הל with the termination lengthened (vid., Ewald, 194, b.), to be wonderful or distinguished. אהבתך, thy love to me. Comparison to the love of woman is expressive of the deepest earnestness of devoted love.
Geneva Study BibleHow are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
Wesley's Notes 1:25 Thine - Which were in thy country, and (had not thy father disinherited thee by his sins) in thy dominions.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary1:17-27 Kasheth, or the bow, probably was the title of this mournful, funeral song. David does not commend Saul for what he was not; and says nothing of his piety or goodness. Jonathan was a dutiful son, Saul an affectionate father, therefore dear to each other. David had reason to say, that Jonathan's love to him was wonderful. Next to the love between Christ and his people, that affection which springs form it, produces the strongest friendship. The trouble of the Lord's people, and triumphs of his enemies, will always grieve true believers, whatever advantages they may obtain by them. | 
