A future time of national mourning will bring about a unique blend of profound unity and meticulous order. As the people of the land grieve for a slain figure, their shared sadness will bridge long standing gaps between tribes and social classes. The nation will be united in immense pain, resembling the deep love between brothers [רד״ק].
Despite this sweeping national unity, the mourning will be highly structured. Rather than gathering in one chaotic mass, each family will assemble in its own designated place. This organized approach is meant to publicize and amplify the intensity of the grief [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
A prominent feature of these gatherings will be the strict separation between men and women. The primary approach among commentators is that this division is rooted in modesty, ensuring that men and women do not mix during such an emotional event [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, another perspective suggests the separation accommodates different expressions of grief. Because women traditionally lament and mourn more intensely than men, they will gather apart to mourn according to their own customs [רד״ק].
The grief will be led by the most respected families, beginning with the royal house of David. Their intense participation is highly significant. Even though the slain leader comes from the tribe of Ephraim, the royal family of David will mourn him as if he were their own only child and firstborn son. This deep sorrow reveals that in those future days, all tribal jealousy and hostility will vanish, replaced entirely by immense love and unity [אברבנאל].
Alongside the royal family, the house of Nathan will also play a leading role in the mourning. The exact identity of this family is a subject of discussion. Some identify Nathan as the famous biblical prophet [רש״י]. Others suggest this refers to Nathan, the son of King David. In this view, the broader royal family is mentioned first, followed by a specific, distinguished branch of his descendants that will be especially prominent at that time [רש״י, מלבי״ם, אברבנאל].
However, some argue against this, noting that David's son would already be included in the general mention of David's house. Instead, they explain that the house of Nathan refers to a family currently unknown to us. The prophet foresaw that in the future, this specific family would grow to be massive, highly respected, and famous [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Another approach suggests that this is a distinguished family from the tribe of Asher, destined to be among the most esteemed families living in Jerusalem during that era, standing alongside the representatives of royalty and the priesthood [אברבנאל].