Bible Commentary


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1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag;

2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth on his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3 And David said to him, From where come you? And he said to him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4 And David said to him, How went the matter? I pray you, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 And David said to the young man that told him, How know you that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance on mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned on his spear; and, see, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, Here am I.

8 And he said to me, Who are you? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9 He said to me again, Stand, I pray you, on me, and slay me: for anguish is come on me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10 So I stood on him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

13 And David said to the young man that told him, From where are you? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

14 And David said to him, How were you not afraid to stretch forth your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?

15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall on him. And he smote him that he died.

16 And David said to him, Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

19 The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, on you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the middle of the battle! O Jonathan, you were slain in your high places.

26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant have you been to me: your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!


when David: 1Sa 30:17-26

Ziklag: 1Sa 27:6

Reciprocal: Exo 17:14 - for I will 1Ch 12:1 - these are

1Sa 4:12

the third: Gen 22:4, Est 4:16, Est 5:1, Hos 6:2, Mat 12:40, Mat 16:21

a man: 2Sa 4:10

clothes: Gen 37:29, Gen 37:34, Jos 7:6, 1Sa 4:12, 1Sa 4:16, Joe 2:13

and earth: 2Sa 15:32

he fell: 2Sa 14:4, Gen 37:7-10, Gen 43:28, 1Sa 20:41, 1Sa 25:23, Psa 66:3, Rev 3:9

Reciprocal: Gen 44:13 - General 1Sa 30:1 - were come 2Sa 3:31 - Rend 2Sa 13:19 - put ashes 2Sa 18:28 - All is well 1Ki 1:53 - bowed himself Neh 9:1 - earth Jer 41:6 - weeping Eze 27:30 - cast

From: 2Ki 5:25

am I: Job 1:15-19

Reciprocal: Job 1:17 - I only am Jer 48:19 - ask

How went: Heb. What was, etc. 1Sa 4:16, *marg.

the people: 1Sa 31:1-6, 1Ch 10:1-6

Reciprocal: 1Sa 14:1 - Jonathan 1Sa 31:3 - went sore 1Ch 10:3 - went Jer 48:19 - ask

How knowest: Pro 14:15, Pro 25:2

Reciprocal: 1Sa 14:1 - Jonathan

As I happened: The story of this young man appears to be wholly a fiction, formed for the purpose of ingratiating himself with David, as the next probable successor to the crown. There is no fact in the case, except for the bringing of the diadem and bracelets of Saul, as a sufficient evidence of his death, which, as he appears to been a plunderer of the slain, he seems to have stripped from the dead body of the unfortunate monarch It is remarkable, that Saul, who had forfeited his crown by his disobedience and ill-timed clemency with respect to the Amalekites, should now have the insignia of royalty stripped from his person by one of those very people. Rth 2:3, 1Sa 6:9, Luk 10:31

mount: 2Sa 1:21, 1Sa 28:4, 1Sa 31:1

Saul: 1Sa 31:2-7

Reciprocal: 2Sa 21:12 - in Gilboa 1Ch 10:1 - mount

Here am I: Heb. Behold me, 2Sa 9:6, Jdg 9:54, 1Sa 22:12, Isa 6:8, *marg. Isa 65:1

an Amalekite: Gen 14:7, Exo 17:8-16, Num 24:20, Deu 25:17-19, 1Sa 15:3, 1Sa 27:8, 1Sa 30:1, 1Sa 30:13, 1Sa 30:17

Reciprocal: Exo 17:14 - for I will 2Sa 1:13 - General

anguish: etc. or, my coat of mail, or, my embroidered coat hindereth me, that my, etc

Reciprocal: 1Sa 31:4 - Saul 1Ch 10:4 - Saul took Rev 9:6 - shall men

slew: Jdg 1:7, Jdg 9:54, 1Sa 22:18, 1Sa 31:4, 1Sa 31:5, Mat 7:2

crown: 2Sa 12:30, Lam 5:16

bracelet: This was probably worn as an ensign of royalty, as is frequently the case in the East. When the Khalif Cayem Bemrillah granted the investiture of certain dominions to an Eastern prince, the ceremony was performed by sending him letters patent, a crown, chain, and bracelets. The bracelet, says Mr. Morier, are ornaments fastened above the elbows, composed of precious stones of great value, and are only worn by the king and his sons.

Reciprocal: 2Sa 1:16 - mouth 2Ki 11:12 - put the crown 1Ch 10:4 - Saul took 2Ch 23:11 - put upon

rent: 2Sa 3:31, 2Sa 13:31, Gen 37:29, Gen 37:34, Act 14:14

likewise: Rom 12:15

Reciprocal: Gen 44:13 - General Est 4:1 - rent Psa 35:14 - I behaved Psa 59:10 - let Ecc 3:7 - time to rend Joe 2:13 - your garments

Psa 35:13, Psa 35:14, Pro 24:17, Jer 9:1, Amo 6:6, Mat 5:44, 2Co 11:29, 1Pe 3:8

Reciprocal: Gen 23:2 - mourn Jos 7:6 - until the eventide 2Sa 3:32 - lifted 2Sa 3:34 - wept 2Sa 3:35 - till the Job 31:29 - General Psa 59:10 - let

2Sa 1:8

Reciprocal: 1Ki 21:16 - Ahab rose up Psa 18:44 - strangers

How: Num 12:8, 1Sa 31:4, 2Pe 2:10

stretch forth: 1Sa 24:6, 1Sa 26:9, Psa 105:15

Reciprocal: 1Sa 12:3 - his anointed 1Sa 26:11 - that I should 1Ch 10:4 - he was Lam 4:20 - the anointed

Go near: 2Sa 4:10-12, Jdg 8:20, 1Sa 22:17, 1Sa 22:18, 1Ki 2:25, 1Ki 2:34, 1Ki 2:46, Job 5:12, Pro 11:18

Reciprocal: 2Sa 4:12 - slew them 2Sa 18:13 - wrought

Thy blood: Gen 9:5, Gen 9:6, Lev 20:9, Lev 20:11-13, Lev 20:16, Lev 20:27, Deu 19:10, Jos 2:19, Jdg 9:24, 1Sa 26:9, 1Ki 2:32, 1Ki 2:33, 1Ki 2:37, Eze 18:13, Eze 33:5, Mat 27:25, Act 20:26

mouth: 2Sa 1:10, Job 15:6, Pro 6:2, Luk 19:22, Rom 3:19

Reciprocal: Gen 37:26 - conceal 1Sa 26:11 - that I should 2Sa 3:29 - rest 2Sa 16:8 - the blood 2Sa 18:13 - wrought Ecc 10:12 - but Eze 33:4 - his blood Hos 12:14 - therefore Act 18:6 - Your

lamented: 2Sa 1:19, Gen 50:11, 2Ch 35:25, Jer 9:17-21

Reciprocal: Gen 23:2 - mourn Gen 50:10 - seven days Psa 35:14 - I behaved Psa 59:10 - let Psa 141:6 - When their judges Eze 32:16 - General Mic 2:4 - and lament

teach: Gen 49:8, Deu 4:10

bow: Kasheth, or the bow, was probably the title of the following threnody; so called, in the oriental style, because Saul’s death was occasioned by that weapon, and because the bow of Jonathan, out of which "the arrow was shot beyond the lad," - 1Sa 20:36, is celebrated in this song.

the book: Jos 10:13

Jasher: or, the upright, So LXX επι βιβλιου τον ευθους; Targum, siphra deooritha, "the book of the law;" the Arabic, "the book of Ashee: this is the book of Samuel." This book was probably a collection of divine odes, written to commemorate remarkable events.

Reciprocal: Num 21:14 - in the book

beauty: 2Sa 1:23, Deu 4:7, Deu 4:8, 1Sa 31:8, Isa 4:2, Isa 53:2, Lam 2:1, Zec 11:7, Zec 11:10

how are: 2Sa 1:25, 2Sa 1:27, Lam 5:16

Reciprocal: Gen 9:22 - told 2Sa 1:17 - lamented Eze 26:17 - How art Oba 1:5 - how

Tell: Deu 32:26, Deu 32:27, Jdg 14:19, Jdg 16:23, Jdg 16:24, 1Sa 31:9, Mic 1:10

Philistines: Exo 15:20, Exo 15:21, Jdg 11:34, 1Sa 18:6, Eze 16:27, Eze 16:57

uncircumcised: 1Sa 17:26, 1Sa 17:36, 1Sa 31:4, 1Sa 31:9

Reciprocal: Gen 9:22 - told Gen 34:14 - uncircumcised Gen 45:1 - Cause Jdg 14:3 - uncircumcised Jdg 15:18 - the uncircumcised 1Sa 6:17 - Gath 1Sa 14:6 - uncircumcised 1Ch 10:4 - uncircumcised 1Ch 10:9 - took 1Ch 18:1 - Gath Eze 31:18 - thou shalt Eze 32:25 - all of them Amo 3:9 - Publish

mountains: 1Sa 31:1, 1Ch 10:1, 1Ch 10:8

no dew: Jdg 5:23, Job 3:3-10, Isa 5:6, Jer 20:14-16

offerings: Joe 1:9, Joe 2:14

not: Instead of belee, "not," we should probably, with Dr. Delaney and others, read keley, "weapons," as it is found on one manuscript and in the first edition of the Hebrew Bible, printed at Soncini, 1488: "the shield of Saul; the weapons of the anointed with oil."

anointed: 1Sa 10:1, Isa 21:5

Reciprocal: Gen 27:28 - of the dew Deu 11:29 - General 1Sa 28:4 - Gilboa 2Sa 1:6 - mount 2Sa 21:12 - in Gilboa 2Ch 17:17 - armed men Job 38:28 - dew Psa 89:38 - wroth Isa 10:27 - because Isa 16:8 - the fields Isa 43:28 - I have Lam 4:20 - the anointed

the bow: 1Sa 14:6-14, 1Sa 18:4, Isa 34:6, Isa 34:7

Reciprocal: 2Ch 17:17 - armed men Jer 50:9 - none

pleasant: or, sweet, 1Sa 18:1, 1Sa 20:2

they were: 1Sa 31:1-5

swifter: 2Sa 2:18, Deu 28:49, 1Ch 12:8, Job 9:26, Jer 4:13, Lam 4:19

stronger: 2Sa 23:20, Jdg 14:18, Pro 30:30

Reciprocal: 2Sa 1:19 - beauty 2Sa 17:10 - heart 1Ch 11:22 - lionlike Psa 147:10 - he taketh Dan 7:4 - like Joe 2:7 - They shall run Php 4:8 - are lovely Rev 4:7 - a flying

Jdg 5:30, Psa 68:12, Pro 31:21, Isa 3:16-26, Jer 2:32, 1Ti 2:9, 1Ti 2:10, 1Pe 3:3-5

Reciprocal: Lam 4:5 - brought Act 9:39 - and all

How: 2Sa 1:19, 2Sa 1:27, Lam 5:16, thou was, Jdg 5:18, 1Sa 14:13-15

Reciprocal: Eze 26:17 - How art

thy love: 1Sa 18:1-4, 1Sa 19:2, 1Sa 20:17, 1Sa 20:41, 1Sa 23:16

Reciprocal: Deu 13:6 - which is 1Sa 14:1 - Jonathan 2Sa 9:1 - show him 2Sa 19:30 - Yea Pro 17:17 - General Pro 18:24 - there Jer 22:18 - Ah my brother Mat 19:5 - cleave

How are: 2Sa 1:19, 2Sa 1:25

weapons: 2Ki 2:12, 2Ki 13:14, Psa 46:9, Eze 39:9, Eze 39:10