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 Gilboa are naked and sterile.

The shield of the mighty is vilely cast away. To cast away the shield was counted a national disgrace. Yet, on that fatal battle of Gilboa, many of the Jewish soldiers who had displayed unflinching valour in former battles, forgetful of their own reputation and their country's honour, threw away their shields and fled from the field. This dishonourable and cowardly conduct is alluded to with exquisitely touching pathos.

The shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. This supplement in our translation is improper. The clause should stand thus: 'the shield of Saul, not anointed (unanointed) with oil,' which was besmeared or rubbed over it, to render the leather more tough and less penetrable (cf. Isaiah 21:5). [The suggestion of Dr. Delaney has been adopted by many-that for bªliy (H1097), not, the reading in the text should be kªliy (H3627), weapons, 'the armour of him anointed with oil.']