2 Samuel 1

The Book has many noble passages, such as David’s lament over Saul and Jonathan (i.), the intercession of the wise woman of Tekoah on behalf of Absalom (xiv.), David’s sorrow for the death of his ungrateful son (xviii. 33), his songs of praise (xxii.) and faith (xxiii. 1-5), and the story of the “three mighty men” at the well of Bethlehem (xxiii. 15, 16).

6. And the young man that told him said. This Amalekite probably followed the camp in order to plunder the slain after the battle (1 Sam. xxxi. 8); and finding Saul’s body and crown, was induced, by the hope of winning David’s favour, to declare falsely that he had given the fatal wound.

9 anguish. More probably, “giddiness,” resulting from his wound.

10 the crown. It is most likely that this “crown” was a cap surrounded with a broad fillet of gold, intended to serve also as a helmet.

the bracelet. Or armlet, part of the royal insignia.

18 [the use of] the bow. The words “the use of” are not in the original; and “The Bow” appears from the context, to be the title of the following elegy, derived, perhaps, either from the occurrence of the word “bow” in ver. 22, or from the facts related in 1 Sam. xxxi. 3. The R.V. has “the song of the bow.”

the book of Jasher. See note on Josh. x. 13.

19. The beauty of Israel. R.V., “Thy beauty, O Israel.”

thy high places. Gilboa.

20 the daughters of the Philistines. Alluding to the triumphal songs which were sung by the women: see 1 Sam. xviii. 7.

21 not fields of offerings. i.e., let not yours be the fields which yield the first-fruit offerings. Cp. Joel i. 9.

the shield of the mighty, etc. These words may also be rendered, “the shield of the mighty ones is polluted (i.e., with dust and blood), the shield of Saul is not anointed with oil” (cp. R.V.): see Isa. xxi. 5.

24. Who clothed you in scarlet. Literally, “with delights” or “jewels”; “Who clothed you in scarlet delicately,” R.V.