2 Samuel 1:21

_YE 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 ANOINTED WITH OIL._ Ye mountains of Gilboa, х_ HAAREEY_ (H2022) _ BA-GILBOA`_ (H1533)]. Gilboa is called a mountain, 1 Samuel 31:8, but here is described, in the plural, as a chain or ridge of low-lying hills. LET THERE BE NO DEW, NEITHER ... RAIN. To be deprived of the genial atmospheric influences which, on those anciently cultivated hills, seem to have reared plenty of first-fruits in the grain harvests, was specified as the greatest calamity the lacerated feelings of the poet could imagine. The curse seems still to lie upon them for the mountains of Gil

17-27 Kasheth, or "the bow," probably was the title of this mournful, funeral song. David does not commend Saul for what he was not; and says nothing of his piety or goodness. Jonathan was a dutiful son, Saul an affectionate father, therefore dear to each other. David had reason to say, that Jonathan's love to him was wonderful. Next to the love between Christ and his people, that affection which springs form it, produces the strongest friendship. The trouble of the Lord's people, and triumphs of his enemies, will always grieve true believers, whatever advantages they may obtain by them....

Verse 2 Samuel 1:21. AS THOUGH HE HAD _NOT_ BEEN] In stead of בלי _beli_, NOT, I read כלי _keley_, INSTRUMENTS. _ANOINTED WITH OIL._] See the observations at the end. 2 Samuel 1:18, c.: _He bade them teach the children of Judah_ the use of _the bow_, _kasheth_. The word _kasheth_ is to be understood of the title of the song which immediately follows, and not of the use of the bow, as our translation intimates. Many of David's Psalms have titles prefixed to them some are termed _Shosannim_, some _Maschil, Nehiloth, Neginoth_, c., and this one here, _Kadesh_ or _The Bow_, because it was occasioned by the Philistine archers....

LET THERE BE NO DEW ... - For a similar passionate form of poetical malediction, compare Job 3:3; Jeremiah 20:14. NOR FIELDS OF OFFERINGS - He imprecates such complete barrenness on the soil of Gilboa, that not even enough may grow for an offering of first-fruits. The latter part of the verse is better rendered thus: For there the shield of the mighty was polluted, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil, but with blood). Shields were usually anointed with oil in preparation for the battle Isaiah 21:5....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 1:1 NOW IT CAME TO PASS. During the last few days events had been crowding fast upon one another. Living as fugitives at Ziklag, in the land of the Philistines, David and his men, unfit for the peaceful occupations of agriculture, had been driven to seek their maintenance by raids upon the wild tribes in the desert. Of these the chief were the Amalekites, whose home was the bare region lying between the south of Judah and Egypt. We have ample proof that this race was utterly hostile to all order and quietness; it lived by the plunder of others, and, sheltering itself in the recesses of the wilderness, broke out thence on every opportunity to carry, ravage and ruin into all the neighbouring districts. The Amalekite was thus every man's enemy, and the object of universal dislike; and the cruelty which he habitually pract

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 them t afterwards; which has been refuted by travellers, particularly Borchard u, 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; o

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. DAVID KING OF JUDAH AND THE EVENTS OF HIS REIGN 1. David's Lamentation for Saul and Jonathan CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The Death of Saul and Jonathan announced to David (2 Samuel 1:1)_ 2. David's great Grief (2 Samuel 1:11) 3. The Amalekite slain (2 Samuel 1:13) 4. David's Lamentation (2 Samuel 1:17) David heard of the death of Saul and Jonathan from the lips of the Amalekite, who also brought him the crown and the bracelet of the dead king. The story of this young man has been branded by some as a falsehood, invented to gain favor from David. It is not

DAVID'S LAMENT OVER SAUL AND JONATHAN. This poem is almost universally accepted as the work of David. It was included in the Book of Jashar (Joshua 10:12 ff., p. 45), and probably borrowed from that book by the author of one of the documents from which _Samuel_ was composed (p. 273). Let the evil tidings be kept from the Philistines, lest they triumph over Israel. May Gilboa be accursed. Saul and Jonathan were mighty warriors, united in life and death. Let the Israelite women lament them. Alas for Jonathan. 2 SAMUEL 1:18. HE BADE THEM... BOW: the RV insertion of the song of represents a theory that The Bow was the title of the poem: this is hardly likely to be correct. Probably the text is corrupt. The favourite explanation is that...

THE SHIELD OF SAUL. Omit the italics that follow, and supply instead "the weapon of one anointed with oil", the Hebrew _k. li (or keli?)_ "weapons" being read instead of _b. ll_ in the first edition of the _Hebrew Bible,_ 1488, and the Syriac and Arabic Versions and Chaldee paraphrase....

David's lamentation for Saul and Jonathan 17. _lamented with this lamentation_ The technical expression for a _death-dirge_or _mournful elegy_, such as that pronounced by David over Abner (ch. 2 Samuel 3:33-34), and by Jeremiah over Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:25)....