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2 Samuel
Chapter One
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 1
This
chapter contains an account of the death of Saul and Jonathan
as related to
David by an Amalekite
2 Samuel 1:1; of
the sorrow he and his men were filled with at the news of it
2 Samuel 1:11; of
his order to put to death the messenger that brought the tidings
for his
concern in the death of Saul
according to his own testimony
2 Samuel 1:13; and
of a lamentation composed by David on this occasion
2 Samuel 1:17.
2 Samuel 1:1 Now it came to
pass after the death of Saul
when David had returned from the slaughter of the
Amalekites
and David had stayed two days in Ziklag
YLT
1And it cometh to pass
after the death of Saul
that David hath returned from smiting the Amalekite
and David dwelleth in Ziklag two days
Now it came to pass after
the death of Saul
.... The third day after
as appears from the next verse:
when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites; as related in
1 Samuel 30:17
and David had abode two days in Ziklag; which
though
fired by the Amalekites
was not utterly consumed
but there was still some
convenience for the lodging of David and his men; within this time he sent his
presents to several places in the tribe of Judah
of which mention is made in
the chapter before quoted
and at the same time it was that so many mighty men
came to him from several tribes spoken of in 1 Chronicles 12:1.
2 Samuel 1:2 2 on
the third day
behold
it happened that a man came from Saul’s camp with his
clothes torn and dust on his head. So it was
when he came to David
that he
fell to the ground and prostrated himself.
YLT
2and it cometh to pass
on
the third day
that lo
a man hath come in out of the camp from Saul
and his
garments [are] rent
and earth on his head; and it cometh to pass
in his
coming in unto David
that he falleth to the earth
and doth obeisance.
It came to pass on the
third day
.... After the battle was fought
in which Saul was slain:
that
behold
a man came out of the camp from Saul; that is
from
them who were in the camp with Saul
for he was dead. Some sayF4Pesikta
in Jarchi in loc. this was Doeg the Edomite
which is not likely that he should
come with such tidings to David; besides
if he was Saul's armourbearer
as
others say
see 1 Samuel 31:4; he
died with Saul; nor his son
as othersF5Tanchuma in Yalkut in loc.
Hieron. Trad. Heb. in 2 lib. Reg. fol. 77. C.
which is not at all probable
though his being an Edomite is no objection
since the Amalekites were of the
race of Edom:
with his clothes rent
and earth upon his head: in token of
mourning
and was the bringer of bad tidings
see 1 Samuel 4:12
and so it was
when he came to David
that he fell to the
earth
and did obeisance; as being the rising sun
Saul's successor
and now king.
2 Samuel 1:3 3 And David said to him
“Where have you come from?” So he said to him
“I have escaped from the camp of
Israel.”
YLT
3And David saith to him
`Whence comest thou?' and he saith unto him
`Out of the camp of Israel I have
escaped.'
And David said unto him
from whence comest thou?.... It is very likely by his appearance and circumstances he
suspected from whence he came:
and he said unto him
out of the camp of Israel am I escaped; which plainly
suggested that that was in danger
confusion
and distress.
2 Samuel 1:4 4 Then David said to him
“How did the matter go? Please tell me.” And he answered
“The people have fled
from the battle
many of the people are fallen and dead
and Saul and Jonathan
his son are dead also.”
YLT
4And David saith unto him
`What hath been the matter? declare
I pray thee
to me.' And he saith
that
`The people hath fled from the battle
and also a multitude hath fallen of the
people
and they die; and also Saul and Jonathan his son have died.'
And David said unto him
how went the matter? I pray thee
tell me
.... That is
how went
the battle? on which side the victory?
and he answered
that the people are fled from the battle; meaning the
people of Israel
they had given way
and turned their backs upon their enemies
and were fled:
and many of the people also are fallen and dead; fell by the
sword in the pursuit of them
and were not only wounded
but were slain
and
these great numbers of them:
and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also; which are
mentioned last
because they fell some of the last; and this part of the
account is reserved by the messenger to the last
because it was the article of
the greatest importance; the death of these two persons
the one the enemy
and
the other the friend of David
and the death of both made way for his accession
to the throne.
2 Samuel 1:5 5 So David said to the young
man who told him
“How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
YLT
5And David saith unto the
youth who is declaring [it] to him
`How hast thou known that Saul and Jonathan
his son [are] dead?'
And David said unto the
young man that told him
.... These tidings:
how knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? this he
particularly inquired after
as what most affected him
and was most material
for him to know; and his meaning is
whether he had this of his own sight and
knowledge
or by report.
2 Samuel 1:6 6 Then the young man who
told him said
“As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa
there was
Saul
leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard
after him.
YLT
6And the youth who is
declaring [it] to him saith
I happened to meet in mount Gilboa
and lo
Saul
is leaning on his spear; and lo
the chariots and those possessing horses have
followed him;
And the young man that
told him
.... So it seems he was
and therefore could not be Doeg
more
likely his son of the two; but there is no reason to believe he was either of
them
who cannot be thought to be well disposed to David:
said
as I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa; who was
either a traveller that came that way just as the army was routed
and part had
fled to Gilboa; or if a soldier
was not one of those that attended Saul
and
was of his bodyguard
but happened on the flight to come to the same spot on
Gilboa where Saul was:
behold
Saul leaned upon his spear; that that might pierce
him through and die; but this seems not true
for he fell upon his sword for
that purpose
1 Samuel 31:4
and
lo
the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him; the
charioteers and cavalry
of which part of the Philistine army consisted; though
this also does not agree with the account in the above place; for according to
that they were the archers that pressed him hard
and hit him.
2 Samuel 1:7 7 Now when he looked behind
him
he saw me and called to me. And I answered
‘Here I am.’
YLT
7and he turneth behind him
and seeth me
and calleth unto me
and I say
Here [am] I.
And when he looked behind
him
.... To see how near the enemy was
and who were pursuing him:
he saw me
and called unto me; by which it should
rather seem that he belonged to the Philistines than to the Israelites
and as
his being an Amalekite shows; for such an one would hardly be admitted among
the latter
though it is most likely he was with neither
but happened to come
that way just at that time:
and I answered
here am I; ready to hear what thou
hast to say
and do thy pleasure.
2 Samuel 1:8 8 And he said to me
‘Who are
you?’ So I answered him
‘I am an Amalekite.’
YLT
8And he saith to me
Who
[art] thou? and I say unto him
An Amalekite I [am].'
And he said unto me
who art
thou?.... Being willing to know whether a friend or an enemy
which by
his coming behind him he could not tell:
and I answered him
I am an Amalekite: which he
might be; but it is not likely he should tell Saul he was
which would not
recommend him to him; though indeed he was now in such circumstances
that the
Amalekites had nothing to fear from him; and if he was slain by him
as
JosephusF6Antiqu. l. 6. c. 14. sect. 7. affirms he was
it seems to
be a just retaliation on him for sparing any of that race
contrary to the will
of God.
2 Samuel 1:9 9 He said to me again
‘Please stand over me and kill me
for anguish has come upon me
but my life
still remains in me.’
YLT
9`And he saith unto me
Stand
I pray thee
over me
and put me to death
for seized me hath the arrow
for all my soul [is] still in me.
And he said unto me again
stand
I pray thee
upon me
and slay me
.... Which it can hardly
be thought Saul would say; since he might as well have died by the hands of the
uncircumcised Philistines
which he endeavoured to avoid
as by the hands of an
Amalekite:
for anguish is come upon me; or trembling
as the
Targum
not through fear of death
but through fear of falling into the hands
of the Philistines
and of being ill used by them. Some render the words
"my embroidered coat"
or "breastplate"
or "coat of
mail"
holds meF7היבץ "tunica
scutulata"
Braunius; "ocellata chlamys"
Junius &
Tremellius
Piscator; "thorax villosus seu pelliceus"
Texelii
Phoenix
p. 210.
or hinders me from being pierced through with the sword or
spear; so Ben GersomF8Vid. Braunium de Vest. Sacredot. Heb. l. 1. c.
17. sect. 9. :
because my life is yet whole in me: for though he
had been wounded by the archers
yet he did not apprehend he had received any
mortal wound
but his life was whole in him; and therefore feared he should
fall into their hands alive
and be ill treated by them.
2 Samuel 1:10 10 So I stood over him and
killed him
because I was sure that he could not live after he had 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.”
YLT
10And I stand over him
and
put him to death
for I knew that he doth not live after his falling
and I
take the crown which [is] on his head
and the bracelet which [is] on his arm
and bring them in unto my lord hither.'
So I stood upon him
and
slew him
.... Pressed with all his weight upon his body
that so the spear
might pierce through him
and slay him; thus he represents his death to be
brought about:
because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen; this is not
consistent with what he had said before
both that he was leaning on his spear
and not fallen to the ground
and that his life was whole in him:
and I took the crown that was upon his head; which made
him conspicuous
and therefore the Philistines aimed at him
and pressed hard
after him
2 Samuel 1:6;
though some think that this was not on his head
but carried into the field of
battle
ready to be put on if victory was on his side; and others say it was in
the possession and care of Doeg
who at his death gave it to his son to carry
to David
and thereby gain his favour:
and the bracelet that was on his arm; of gold no
doubt
so JosephusF9Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 6. c. 14. sect. 7.) ; such
as great personages used to wear
men as well as women
see Genesis 38:18
especially military menF11Vid. Liv. Hist. Decad. 1. l. 10. c. 44. .
Jarchi takes them to be the "totaphot" or phylacteries on the arm
which is not probable:
and have brought them hither unto my lord; as ensigns of
royalty
fit only for a king
Saul's successor
as this person
by calling him
lord
owned him to be
and thought by bringing those to him to be highly he
neared and rewarded.
2 Samuel 1:11 11 Therefore David took hold
of his own clothes and tore them
and so did all the men who were
with him.
YLT
11And David taketh hold on
his garments
and rendeth them
and also all the men who [are] with him
When David took hold on
his clothes
.... Not on the young man's but his own:
and rent them; on bearing of the death of Saul and
Jonathan
see Genesis 37:34; from
whence the JewsF12T. Bab. Moed. Katon
fol. 26. 1. gather
that a
man is bound to rend his clothes for a prince
and for the father of the
sanhedrim
since Saul
they say
was the prince
and Jonathan the father of
that court:
and likewise all the men that were with him; rent their
clothes also
in imitation of him; the same custom obtained among the Gentiles
on mournful occasionsF13"-----it scissa veste Latinus".
Virgil. Aeneid. 12. prope finem. .
2 Samuel 1:12 12 And they mourned and wept
and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son
for the people of
the Lord
and for the house of Israel
because they had fallen by the sword.
YLT
12and they mourn
and weep
and fast till the evening
for Saul
and for Jonathan his son
and for the
people of Jehovah
and for the house of Israel
because they have fallen by the
sword.
And they mourned and wept
.... Inwardly
mourned
and outwardly wept
no doubt sincerely:
and fasted until even; ate no food all that day
until it was evening
the manner in which fasts used to be kept:
for Saul
and for Jonathan his son; it is no wonder that
David and his men should mourn for Jonathan
a good man
and a valiant one
and
a dear and faithful friend of David's; but it may seem not so clear a thing
that they should
mourn for Saul
a wicked man
and a persecutor of David
without cause: but it should be observed that he had been reconciled to David
and had not since attempted anything against him; besides
he was his prince
his father-in-law
and the rather he might be grieved for his death
and his
men with him
because it was matter of joy to the Philistines
and they would
endeavour to avail themselves of it; and especially the manner of his death
that he should be the cause of it himself
and die without repentance
as it
might be feared
and quickly after consultation with a witch
and when left of
God
if these particulars were known to David:
and for the people of the Lord
and for the house of Israel; that is
the
people of the Lord
even the house of Israel
or who were of the house of
Israel; or if they are to be distinguished
the former may respect the people
of the Lord who died in battle
for whom mourning was made; and the latter the
people that survived
the whole kingdom of Israel
which had sustained a great
loss by the slaughter made in this battle
as it follows:
because they were fallen by the sword; so many of
them.
2 Samuel 1:13 13 Then David said to the
young man who told him
“Where are you from?” And he answered
“I am
the son of an alien
an Amalekite.”
YLT
13And David saith unto the
youth who is declaring [it] to him
`Whence [art] thou?' and he saith
`Son of
a sojourner
an Amalekite
I [am].'
And David said unto the
young man that told him
whence art thou?.... From what place
or
of what people and nation art thou? though Abarbinel thinks it neither respects
place nor people
but that David thought he was another man's servant; so that
the sense of the question is
to what man did he belong?
and he answered
I am the son of a stranger
an Amalekite; he was not
any man's servant
but the son of a proselyte
of one that was by birth and
nation an Amalekite
but proselyted to the Jewish religion; he might know of
what nation he originally was
by the account he had given of what passed
between him and Saul
2 Samuel 1:8;
though the mind of David might so disturbed as not to advert to it; or if he
did
he might be willing to have it repeated for confirmation's sake.
2 Samuel 1:14 14 So David said to him
“How
was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?”
YLT
14And David saith unto him
`How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the anointed of
Jehovah?'
And David said unto him
how
wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand
.... By which
it should seem that he did more than stand upon him
and press his body
that
the spear might pierce through him
but that he drew his sword
and slew him;
so David understood him
and is the sense of the phrase in 1 Samuel 17:51
to destroy the Lord's anointed? a reason why David did
not destroy him
when it was in the power of his hands
and which he made use
of to dissuade others from it; and here charges it not only as a criminal
but
a daring action in this young man
at which he expresses his admiration how he
could do it; hereby representing it as a very shocking and detestable action;
see 1 Samuel 24:6.
2 Samuel 1:15 15 Then David called one of
the young men and said
“Go near
and execute him!” And he struck him so
that he died.
YLT
15And David calleth to one of
the youths
and saith
`Draw nigh -- fall upon him;' and he smiteth him
and he
dieth;
And David called one of
the young men
.... His servants that attended on him:
and said
go near
and fall upon him; by smiting
him with his sword:
and he smote him
that he died; his orders were
instantly obeyed. Kings and generals of armies had great power in those times
and countries to execute a man immediately
without any other judge or jury:
what may serve
or David might think would serve
to justify him in doing this
is what follows.
2 Samuel 1:16 16 So David said to him
“Your blood is on your own head
for your own mouth has testified
against you
saying
‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’”
YLT
16and David saith unto him
`Thy blood [is] on thine own head
for thy mouth hath testified against thee
saying
I -- I put to death the anointed of Jehovah.'
And David said unto him
thy blood be upon thy head
.... The blood that he
had shed
let him suffer for it; for as he had shed blood
his blood ought to
be shed
according to the law of God; and for proof of this
that he had so
done
he appeals to his own confession:
for thy mouth hath testified against thee
saying
I have slain
the Lord's anointed; and what might serve to confirm the truth of what he had said
were the crown and bracelet which he brought along with him; and besides he was
an Amalekite
of a nation that was devoted to destruction; and
as Abarbinel
thinks
David might suppose that he killed Saul to take vengeance on him for
what he had done to their nation; but
after all
both he and MaimonidesF14Hilchot
Sanhedrin
c. 18. sect. 6. allow the punishment of him was not strictly
according to law
but was a temporary decree
an extraordinary case
and an act
of royal authority; for in common cases a man was not to be condemned and put
to death upon his own confession
since it is possible he may not be in his
right mindF15T. Bab. Yehamot
fol. 25. 2. Maimon. ibid. ; but David
chose to exercise severity in this case
partly to show his respect to Saul
and to ingratiate himself into the favour of his friends
and partly to deter
men from attempting to assassinate princes
who himself was now about to ascend
the throne.
2 Samuel 1:17 17 Then David lamented with
this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son
YLT
17And David lamenteth with
this lamentation over Saul
and over Jonathan his son;
And David lamented with
this lamentation over Saul
and over Jonathan his son. Composed the
following elegy on account of their death
and sung it in a tune agreeable to
it
he and the men that were with him.
2 Samuel 1:18 18 and he told them to
teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is
written in the Book of Jasher:
YLT
18and he saith to teach the
sons of Judah `The Bow;' lo
it is written on the book of the Upright: --
(Also he bade them teach the children of
Judah the use of the bow
.... These words
with what follow in this
verse
are rightly put into a parenthesis
since they do not begin nor make any
part of the elegiac song
or lamentation of David; and are here inserted to
show
that
amidst his sorrow and lamentation
he was not unmindful of the
welfare of the people
and to provide for their defence and security; and
therefore gave orders that care should be taken
especially in the tribe of
Judah
which was his own tribe
and where he had the greatest authority
and for
whom he might have the chiefest concern
that they should be trained up in
military exercises
learn the art of war
and the use of every weapon of war
particularly of the bow
which
being a principal one
may be put for all; and
which may be the rather mentioned
because the Philistines were expert in the
use of it
and seemed to have done much execution with it in the recent battle
see 1 Samuel 31:3. They
are saidF16Bedford's Chronology
p. 245. to be the inventors of it;
though PlinyF17Nat. Hist. l. 7. c. 56. ascribes it to others; and it
may be the people of Israel and of Judah had of late neglected to learn the use
of it
and to make use of it
and instead of that had taken to other sort of
arms in fighting; for that that was not unknown to them
or wholly disused
is
clear from this song
2 Samuel 1:22; see
also 1 Chronicles 12:2.
Moreover
as the Philistines
especially the Cherethites
were expert in
archery
David found ways and means to get some of them afterwards into his
service
and by whom he might improve his people in the art
see 2 Samuel 8:18;
though someF18See Gregory's Notes and Observations
&c. ch. 1.
and Weemse of the Judicial Laws
c. 44. p. 171. are of opinion that the word
"keshet"
or bow
was the title of the following lamentation or song
taken from the mention of Jonathan's bow in it; which song the children of
Judah were to be taught to sing; but then
as has been observed by some
for
this there would have been no need of the following reference
since the whole
this song is here recorded:
behold
it is written in book of Jasher); which the
Targum calls the book of the law; and Jarchi and Ben Gersom restrain it to the
book of Genesis
the book of the upright
Abraham
Isaac
and Jacob
and
suppose respect is had to the prophecy concerning Judah
Genesis 49:8
but
Kimchi
extending it to all the five books of Moses
adds his blessing
in Deuteronomy 33:7.
In the Arabic version it is explained of the book of Samuel
interpreted the
book of songs
as if it was a collection of songs; which favours the above
sense. JeromF19Trad. Heb. in 2 lib. Reg. fol. 77. D. interprets it
of the same book
the book of the righteous prophets
Samuel
Gad
and Nathan:
hut this book seems to have been a public register or annals
in which were
recorded memorable actions in any age
and had its name from the uprightness
and faithfulness in which it was kept; and in this were set down the order of
David for the teaching the children of Judah the use of the bow
and perhaps
the method which he directed to for instruction in it; See Gill on Joshua 10:13.
2 Samuel 1:19 19 “The beauty of Israel is
slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
YLT
19`The Roebuck
O Israel
On
thy high places [is] wounded; How have the mighty fallen!
The beauty of Israel is
slain upon thy high places
.... The high mountains of Gilboa
where
Saul their king
and Jonathan his son
a prince of the blood
and natural heir
to the crown
and multitudes of young men
the flower of the nation
were
wounded and slain. Here begins the lamentation
or the elegiac song:
how are the mighty fallen! mighty men of war
strong and valiant
as Saul and his sons were
and the soldiers in his army.
2 Samuel 1:20 20 Tell
it not in Gath
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon— Lest
the daughters of the Philistines rejoice
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised
triumph.
YLT
20Declare [it] not in Gath
Proclaim not the tidings in the streets of Ashkelon
Lest they rejoice -- The
daughters of the Philistines
Lest they exult -- The daughters of the
Uncircumcised!
Tell it not in Gath
.... One of
the five principalities of the Philistines
and the chief of them
being raised
to a kingdom
and whose king was at the head of the armies of the Philistines
that engaged with Saul. This is not to be understood of a command of David
who
could not hinder the victory the Philistines had got over Israel being known at
Gath
and talked of with pleasure there
but a wish it had not:
publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; another of
the principalities of the Philistines
and the sense the same as before:
lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice
lest the daughters
of the uncircumcised triumph; it being usual in those times and countries
for women
young women more especially
to express their joy
on occasion of
victories obtained
by singing and dancing
Judges 11:34.
2 Samuel 1:21 21 “O mountains of Gilboa
Let
there be no dew nor rain upon you
Nor fields of offerings. For the shield
of the mighty is cast away there! The shield of Saul
not anointed with oil.
YLT
21Mountains of Gilboa! No dew
nor rain be on you
And fields of heave-offerings! For there hath become
loathsome The shield of the mighty
The shield of Saul -- without the anointed
with oil.
Ye mountains of Gilboa
.... On which
fell Saul and his sons
and many of the people of Israel
2 Samuel 1:6
let there be no dew
neither let there be rain upon you; which is not to
understood as a real imprecation; for David would never curse any part of the
land of Israel
for which he had so great a regard; but only as a poetical
figure
expressing his concern for
and abhorrence of what happened on those
mountains; much less did this in reality take place
as some have feigned
as
if never dew nor rain descended on themF20Cippi Heb. p. 34.
afterwards; which has been refuted by travellers
particularly BorchardF21Apud
Hottinger not. in ib. see Bunting's Travels
p
131.
who
speaking of this
mountain
says
that as he was upon it
there was such a violent shower fell
that he was wet through his clothes; and in the year 1273
laying all night
upon this hill
there was a great dew fell upon him:
nor fields of offerings; of heave offerings; the
meaning is
that he could wish almost that those hills were not fruitful
and
that they brought no fruit to perfection
so much as that heave offerings for
the service of the sanctuary might be taken; which is expressive of great
sterility and scarcity
see Joel 1:13
for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away; mighty men
were obliged to cast away their shields and flee
which were greatly to their
reproach and scandal
and to that of the whole nation: it was always reckoned
very scandalous
and a great crime
even punishable with death
to cast away a
shield
both with the Greeks and othersF23Isocrates de Pace
p. 364.
Horat. Carmin. l. 2. Ode 7. Tacitus de Mor. German. c. 6. Alex. ab Alex.
Genial. Dier. l. 2. c. 13. : yea
also
the shield of Saul
as though he had not been
anointed with oil; as if he was not the anointed king of Israel
but a common
soldier: or else this respects his shield
as if that was not anointed
as
shields used to be
that they might be smooth and glib
and missile weapons
as
arrows and others
might not pass through them
but slide off
see Isaiah 21:5; though
Gersom gives a different turn
that Saul's shield being in continual use
needed not to be anointed
as those did which for a time had been laid aside.
Abarbinel interprets these words thus
that he
who was the shield of the
mighty
even Saul himself
was vilely cast away
or become loathsome; and that
his shield was anointed
not with oil
but with the blood of the slain
and the
fat of the mighty
connecting them with the words following.
2 Samuel 1:22 22 From
the blood of the slain
From the fat of the mighty
The bow of Jonathan did not
turn back
And the sword of Saul did not return empty.
YLT
22From the blood of the
wounded
From the fat of the mighty
The bow of Jonathan Hath not turned backward;
And the sword of Saul doth not return empty.
From the blood of the
slain
from the fat of the mighty
the bow of Jonathan turned not back
.... That is
it always did execution
the arrows shot frown it pierced into men
shed their
blood
and slew them; even they entered into the fat of the mighty
or mighty
ones
that were fat
and brought them down; so the arrows of the Medes and
Persians
the expert men among them
are said not to return in vain
Jeremiah 50:9
and the sword of Saul returned not empty; but was the
means of slaying many; though Abarbinel observes also that this may be
interpreted of the blood of the slain
and of the fat of the mighty men of
Israel; and that though Saul and Jonathan saw many of these fall before their
eyes
yet "for" or "because" of their blood
they were not
intimidated and restrained from fighting; the bow of the one
and the shield of
the other
turned not back on that account.
2 Samuel 1:23 23 “Saul
and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives
And in their
death they were not divided; They were swifter than eagles
They were stronger
than lions.
YLT
23Saul and Jonathan! They are
loved and pleasant in their lives
And in their death they have not been
parted. Than eagles they have been lighter
Than lions they have been mightier!
Saul and Jonathan were
lovely and pleasant in their lives
.... To one another
had
no quarrel or difference with each other
only on the account of David;
otherwise they agreed together in the court
and in the camp
in their
councils
and in their conduct:
and in their death they were not divided; neither from
the people
nor from one another; Jonathan stuck close by his father to the
last; which is observed to clear him from any imputation of conspiracy against
him:
they were swifter than eagles; in the quick dispatch of
business
in hasting to the relief of the distressed
as Saul to the men of
Jabeshgilead
and in the pursuit of their enemies
as of the Philistines
more
than once:
they were stronger than lions; fighting with their
enemies
who became an case prey to them; and what is stronger than a lion
among beasts? Judges 14:18; or
swifter than an eagle among birds
which is said to cut the air with its wingsF24Aelian.
Hist. Animal. l. 15. c. 22. Vid. Ciceron. de Divinatione
l. 2. prope finem. ?
2 Samuel 1:24 24 “O
daughters of Israel
weep over Saul
Who clothed you in scarlet
with luxury; Who
put ornaments of gold on your apparel.
YLT
24Daughters of Israel! for
Saul weep ye
Who is clothing you [in] scarlet with delights. Who is lifting up
ornaments of gold on your clothing.
Ye daughters of Israel
weep over Saul
.... In their mournful elegies:
who clothed you with scarlet
with other delights; not only with
scarlet
but with other fine and delightful apparel
such as were very pleasing
to the female sex
especially young people
who are delighted with gay apparel;
this Saul was the means of
through the spoil he took from his enemies
and by
other methods taken by him to the enriching of the nation
whereby husbands and
parents were enabled to provide rich clothes for their wives and children:
who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel; broidered
work
jewels of gold
&c. See Isaiah 3:18.
2 Samuel 1:25 25 “How the mighty have
fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high
places.
YLT
25How have the mighty fallen
In the midst of the battle! Jonathan! on thy high places wounded!
How 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.
2 Samuel 1:26 26 I
am distressed for you
my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your
love to me was wonderful
Surpassing the love of women.
YLT
26I am in distress for thee
my brother Jonathan
Very pleasant wast thou to me; Wonderful was thy love to
me
Above the love of women!
I am distressed for thee
my brother Jonathan
.... So he was
not only by nation and religion
but by affinity
having married the sister of Jonathan; and still more so by affection and
friendship
he being a friend of David's
that stuck closer to him than a
brother
and who loved him as his own soul; he was distressed for him
not on
account of his spiritual and eternal state
which he doubted not was happy
but
for the manner of his death
his loss of him
and want of his pleasant
conversation
of his counsel and advice
and assistance in his present
circumstances:
very pleasant hast thou been unto me; in their
friendly visits of
and conversation with
one another; many a pleasant hour
had they spent together
but now must see each other's faces no more in this
world:
thy love to me was wonderful; as indeed he might well
say
being towards one of a mean extract in comparison of his
to one who was
not his own brother
but a brother-in-law; and to one that was a rival to the
crown he was heir to
and would take it before him: and who ran the risk of
losing his father's affection
and even his life
for espousing his cause: see 1 Samuel 18:1
passing the love of women; either that which they
are loved with by men
or that with which they love their husbands and
children; which is generally the strongest and most affectionate. The Targum
is
"more than the love of two women
'than his two wives
Ahinoam and
Abigail; so Kimchi; meaning that he was more strongly and affectionately loved
by Jonathan than by them
who yet might love him very well too.
2 Samuel 1:27 27 “How
the mighty have fallen
And the weapons of war perished!”
YLT
27How have the mighty fallen
Yea
the weapons of war perish!'
How are the mighty fallen
.... This is
the burden of this elegiac song
being the third time it is mentioned:
and the weapons of war perished! not only the valiant
soldiers were killed
but their arms were lost; and particularly he may mean
Saul and Jonathan
who as they were the shields of the people
so they were the
true weapons and instruments of war
and with them all military glory perished;
which must be understood as a poetical figure
exaggerating their military
characters; otherwise David
and many mighty men with him
remained
and who
revived and increased the military glory of Israel
as the following history
shows.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》