1An Amalekite bringeth to David the news of the Israelites' defeat, and chargeth himself with Saul's death. 11David and his men mourn thereat. 13The Amalekite is slain by David's command. 17David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan.
1NOW it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the 1slaughter of the Amalekites,a and David had abode two days in 2Ziklag;
1 Hebr. from smiting Amalek. See the history, 1 Samuel 30.
a 1 Sam. 30:17
2 See 1 Sam. 27:6.
2It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes 3rent, and 4earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3 As a sign of mourning, and grief of heart. See Gen. 37 on verse 29.
4 Compare Joshua 7:6; 1 Sam. 4:12; 2 Sam. 13:19; 15:32; Job 2:12. This was in mourning a sign of shame, unworthiness, and deep humiliation.
3And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4And David said unto him, 5How went the matter? I pray thee, 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 Or, properly, what was the matter, or, the business?
5And David said unto the 6young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
6 That is, youth, young man. See Gen. 22 on verse 5.
6And the young man that told him said, As I 7happened by chance upon mount 8Gilboa, behold, Saul 9leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and 10horsemen 11followed hard after him.
7 Hebr. meeting I met, or, coming by chance I came by chance.
8 Situated in Issachar, on the south borders. See 1 Sam. 28:4, and 31:1.
9 That is, did thrust to make the head of his spear to pierce through his body.
10 Hebr. the masters, or, lords of the horsemen.
11 Hebr. clave, or, stuck close to him.
7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9He said unto me again, Stand,b I pray thee, 12upon me, and slay me: for 13anguish is 14come upon me, 15because my life is yet whole in me.
b Stand upon – attack
12 Or, against me, upon me; or, stand up against me; so verse 10.
13 Or, eyed, or, embroidered military coat. The Hebrew word is thus only found in this place, and comes from a word which signifies embroidering, or making work full of eyes, also compassing about, inlaying of precious stones in ouches, cases, or, escutcheons. Therefore some translate it, this compassing about, hemming in, straitening (of the horsemen) also terror, anguish hath caught hold of me.
14 That the spear could not pierce through into my body.
15 As if he said: I have strongly endeavored to take away my life with my spear, but it would not be; my life is yet entirely in me.
10So I stoodc upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live 16after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto 17my lord.
c attacked*
16 After he was fallen upon his spear, and by means thereof was fallen down. This he adds to excuse himself of being the cause of Saul’s death, and to confirm, and put out of doubt the tidings which he brought. The reader may compare this entire relation with 1 Samuel 31 and judge the matter.
17 Namely, David; that is, unto thee.
11Thend David took hold on his clothes, and 18rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
d 2 Sam. 3:31; 13:31.
18 As verse 2.
12And 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 unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand 19to destroy 20the LORD’S anointed?
19 That is, to slay, smite down, kill. Compare Judges 20:21, 25, 35, 42 and elsewhere.
20 See 1 Sam. 10:1; 1 Kings 1:34.
15And David called one of the 21young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
21 His servants or courtiers.
16And David said unto him, 22Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.
22 See Lev. 20 on verse 9; Judges 9 on verse 24.
17¶And David lamented with 23this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
23 Which begins in verse 19.
18(Also he 24bade them 25teach the children 26of Judah the use of the bow: behold, 27it is written in the 28book of Jasher.e)
24 That is, commanded, giving orders; to raise up foremost the people of God after the death of their king, and to encourage them that they might not be daunted by his following lamentation.
25 The use or handling of the bow, to become experienced archers and soldiers, after the example of Saul and Jonathan. See verse 22.
26 From which tribe David himself was descended, and who had the promise of God concerning the kingdom, and valor in war, Gen. 49:8, 9, 10.
27 This may be understood thus, that in this book was written what order David had given concerning them, so as to make the use and exercise of arms a thing common to his tribe.
28 Of this book, see Joshua 10 on verse 13.
e Joshua 10:13.
19The 29beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high 30places: how are the mighty fallen!
29 Thus he calls God, from Whom all Israel’s glory and ornament descended. Compare Deut. 4:7, 8; 33:29. Others apply it to Saul, or the land of promise.
30 Namely, upon the mountains of Gilboa (verse 21, and 1 Sam. 31:8) which he calls God's high places, because they specially pertained to God, as situated in Israel.
20Tellfit not in 31Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines 32rejoice, lest the daughters 33of the uncircumcised 34triumph.
f Micah 1:10.
31Gath and Askelon were both inhabited by the Philistines, situated in the southwest of the mountains of Gilboa by the sea, Gath in Dan, and Askelon in Simeon. See Judges 14 on verse 19 and 2 Sam. 21:20, 22.
32 Blaspheming and mocking God and His people: as Judges 16:23, etc.
33 See Judges 15 on verse 18.
34 By outward gestures and signs of joy ascribing the praise of this victory unto their gods.
2135Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, 36nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is 37vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though 38he had not been anointed with oil.
35 This serves to move and stir up the Israelites at the things that happened there. Compare Judges 5:23; Job 3 and elsewhere.
36 That is, let there be no fruitful fields upon these mountains whereof heave-offerings might be made. Or, upon the heaved, or, lifted up fields, high fields. Hebr. fields of heaving, or, lifting up.
37 Or, loathsomely, vilely, contemptibly.
38 Namely, Saul, who fell so shamefully and contemptibly that it was pitiful for one who was the Lord's anointed. Others apply it to Saul’s shield; as they were wont in those times to anoint the shield (that was covered with leather) with oil. See Isa. 21:5. Other, without the anointed with oil, that is, severed from the anointed, etc., namely, from Saul.
2239From 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.
39 The meaning is: Jonathan’s bow and Saul’s sword were wont ever to hit sure, so that they returned not without having felled to the ground the most stout and valiant soldiers of the enemy, though it has now, alas, happened quite otherwise.
23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were 40swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
40 That is, lighter.
24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who 41clothed you in scarlet, 42with other delights, 43who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
41 Protecting the land against the enemies, so that it flourished in peace and abundance of all kind of riches, whereof this was a sign.
42 That is, pleasantly, lovely, tenderly, that it was delightful to behold. Other, with all manner of, or, with other delights.
43 Hebr. who made ornaments of gold come up upon your apparel, by reason of this phrase mentioned in the foregoing annotation, as also in regard of the prey which he took from the enemies.
25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine 44high places.
44 See verse 19.
26I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: 45thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of 46women.
45 Which thou barest to me.
46 Namely, wherewith men love women; that is, it excelled the closest friendship ever which can be among people, being kindled for David’s comfort, and preserved by the Holy Spirit in the heart of Jonathan.
27How are the mighty fallen, and the 47weapons of war perished!
47 Or, instruments of war, namely, Saul and Jonathan, who were as Israel’s weapons and means, whereby Israel was defended and protected. It may also be properly understood of the weapons of war, which the Philistines got for a prey.