The Second Book of Samuel, otherwise called the Second Book of the Kings
2 Samuel 1
Chapter I · Vol. II, pp. 675–677
1 The Amalekite, who brought tidings of the Israelites' defeat, and accused himself of Saul's death, is slain. 11 David and his men mourn thereat. 17 David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan.
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, awhen David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites,1 and David had babode two days in Ziklag;
A.M. 2948. B.C. 1056.
a 1 Sa.30.17. Ps.9.18; 27.14.
1 It seems probable that the events related in the last two chapters of 1 Samuel did not take place in the order of time in which they are placed, and especially, that David's victory over the Amalekites was about the time of the battle of Gilboa, and his return subsequent. Such anachronisms are unavoidable in history.—C.
2 It came even to pass con the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, dwith his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4 And David said unto him, eHow2 went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, fThat 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 unto the young man that told him, gHow knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened3 by chance4 upon hmount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
3 Heb. meeting, I met.
4 There is no such contradiction, as infidels have asserted, between this account of Saul's death and that contained in 1 Sam. xxxi. This narrative was a mere fiction of the Amalekite in order to ingratiate himself with David. It is not, however, uncommon for men to take to themselves the credit, if we may so speak, of wicked actions which they wanted either the courage or the opportunity of achieving.—C.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me: and I answered, Here am I.5
5 Heb. Behold me.
8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an iAmalekite.
i Ge.14.7. Ex.17.8-16. Nu.24.20. De.25.17-19. 1 Sa.15.3; 27.8; 30.17.
9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me,6 because my life is yet whole in me.7
6 Or, my coat of mail, or my embroidered coat hindereth me, that my, &c.
7 Boothroyd, adopting a conjectural emendation, translates 'convulsion hath seized me, so that there is scarcely life in me.'—I.
10 So I stood upon him, and kslew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown8 that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm,9 and have brought them hither unto my lord.
k 1 Sa.31.4; 22.18. Mat.7.2. Ju.9.54.
A.M. 2948. B.C. 1056.
8 Not the royal crown, which would not be fit for battle; but some distinctive ornament of his helmet, of which ancient sculptures afford variety.—C.
9 Bracelets set with diamonds of enormous value are still an emblem of royalty among the Persians; and bands of gold on the arm are mentioned by historians as constituting a part of the regalia of the ancient British kings.-C.
11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and lrent them,1 and likewise all the men that were with him:
12 And they mmourned 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.
m Mat.5.44. 1 Pe.3.8. Am.6.6. Ro.12.15. Je.9.1. La.i.-v. Ps.35.13,14. Pr.24.17,18. 1 Co.12.26. 2 Co.11.29. He.13.1,3.
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.
14 And David said unto him, nHow wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?
15 And David ocalled one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.2
o ch.4.10,12. Ju.8.20. 1 Sa.22.18. 1 Ki.2.25,34,46.
2 David at the time could have no reason to doubt the truth of this statement; and, according to his own confession, the Amalekite, being a murderer, was justly put to death according to the divine law.—C.
16 And David said unto him, pThy blood be upon thy head: for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.
17 And David qlamented with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son;
q Ge.50.11. 2 Ch.35.25.
18 (Also he bade them rteach the children of Judah the use of the bow;3 behold, it is written sin the book of Jasher;4)
r Ge.49.8. De.33.7. 1 Sa.31.3.
3 The words use of, being supplied to make out the sense of the translators, some have supposed to be improperly inserted; and that the bow is the title of the elegy. But the sense of the translators seems the true one; for Saul having been wounded by the Philistine archers (see 1 Sa. 31. 3), and the whole battle having probably been gained by them, an ordinance for teaching the use of the bow seems naturally connected with such a national calamity.—C.
s Jos.10.13. An uninspired history of the Hebrews.
4 Or, of the upright.
19 Thet beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: uhow are the mighty fallen!
t De.4.4,7,8. ver.23. 1 Sa.31.8.
20 Tellx it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest ythe daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
x Mi.1.10. Ju.16.23. 1 Sa.31.9.
y 1 Sa.18.6. Ex.15.20,21.
21 Yez mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon 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 aanointed 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.3
3 'The figure upon which this passage is founded is, that arrows drink the blood of the enemy, and a sword devours their flesh; thus in De. 32. 42, 'I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh.'—P.
23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and bpleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were cswifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
c ch.2.18; 23.20. 1 Ch.12.8. Is.5.20,29. Hab.1.8.
24 Ye ddaughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet,4 with other delights,5 who put on ornaments6 of gold upon your apparel.
d 1 Pe.3.3. 1 Ti.2.9. Ps.68.12. Je.2.32, with Job 30.9. Re.11.10.
4 The favourite colour of the rich. It would seem that under Saul the country had acquired such wealth that a splendour of dress was attainable that was before unknown.—I.
5 'With delights,' i.e. he clothed you in purple in a way which gave delight and pleasure.—P.
6 Israel, through so many intestine divisions, foreign invasions, and oppressions—the righteous but heavy punishment of their sins—was, at the accession of Saul, in a very rude condition, and nearly deprived of both agriculture and arts. David here celebrates the economic improvements commenced under the government of Saul, as manifested in the dress of the people.—Note, All improvements in arts, and means of comfort, are blessings from God: ornaments of dress are not sinful, but pride is.—C.
25 How are the emighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
e ver.19,27. La.5.16.
Notes
[Ver. 18. Book of Jasher. The book of Jasher is by some supposed to have been an uninspired book, now lost. But it were strange indeed if an inspired writer referred to uninspired authority! The word Jasher signifying perfect, is it not much more likely that this was a mere Hebrew phrase of authentication, somewhat similar to the English phrase, 'witness my hand and seal?' C.——It is still customary in the East to give quaint or far-fetched titles to odes and treatises. Many of the titles appear at first sight to have little connection with the subject-matter, and it often requires a lengthened explanation to show their significancy. I have no doubt that the title of this noble ode was Kesheth, 'The bow.' The reason for the title it is not difficult to perceive. The bow is mentioned in ver. 22; it is besides a martial ode, and the bow was one of the principal weapons used in the fatal battle of Gilboa—a weapon, too, in the use of which the Benjamites were especially skilled. Taken in this sense the words of David are appropriate and most expressive. 'Teach the children of Judah Kesheth; behold, it is written in the Book of the Righteous.' P.]
Ver. 19. [This is one of the finest odes of the Old Testament. For martial fire, mingled with lofty sentiment and deep pathos, it is scarcely surpassed in the whole compass of literature. The noblest qualities of David's mind appear in it. All his own sufferings and cruel wrongs are forgotten in the fervour of his love and the depth of his grief. Not one bitter or revengeful feeling, not one word of exultation, not one sentiment even suggestive of a fault, is permitted to cloud the glowing picture of the departed hero. He sings only of Saul the mighty warrior, the delight of his people, the father of his beloved friend Jonathan, the anointed of the Lord. He dwells only on the best qualities and brightest features of the monarch. P.]
Ver. 21. [The second clause of this verse ought rather to be translated: 'For there is the shield of the mighty defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.' It is the shield, and not the king, that is spoken of. It was not cleansed or polished. P.]
Ver. 23. [Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. This seems inconsistent with Saul's attempt against the life of Jonathan, 1 Sa. 20. 30-34. But however deeply culpable, this was but a solitary act, and not any habitual disagreement. C.]
Ver. 25. [Jonathan was noted for daring exploits. A trained mountaineer, the widest cliffs were the scenes of his greatest feats of arms. Yet on Mount Gilboa he fell. This in the mind of the enthusiastic warrior-poet enhanced the humiliation of defeat: 'Jonathan slain on thy heights!' P.]
Reflections.—How glorious is it to be thoroughly mortified to all worldly advancements, even when a kingdom is promised! He that believeth does not make haste. But base minds readily measure others by themselves; who, for the sake of favour or gain, will blemish their character, if not endanger their life. How striking are the judgments of God! Saul spared the Amalekites, when God commanded him to kill them, and thereby forfeited his crown. An Amalekite now boasts that he had killed Saul, and brings his crown and bracelet to David. How often are men so fond of their marks of dignity, as thereby to endanger their life! But sad anguish seizes on departing sinners. And it is mad to flee to death as a relief, when hell follows after. It is proper to lament the death of our relations, however wicked some of them have been; and to punish murderers, whatever friendship they may pretend. Death should wipe out the injuries which have been done to us. And let us speak nothing but in commendation, unless when duty forces us to it. But let the triumphing of the wicked over the cause of God be always grievous to us. In fine, let this song teach us generosity towards our injurers, gratitude towards our steady friends, and a deep concern for the honour of our God and the welfare of our country.