2 Samuel 1
Berean Study Bible

Saul’s Death Reported to David

After the death of Saul,

Saul’s death in battle ended his troubled reign and fulfilled Samuel’s warning that he and his sons would fall before the Philistines. Though Saul had been Israel’s first king, God rejected him because of his disobedience. His death removed the last obstacle to David’s public rise as the king God had chosen.

1Sa 31:4-6 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
1Sa 31:8-10 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead…
1Ch 10:13-14 So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD…

David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites

David had led his men against the Amalekite raiders who had burned Ziklag and taken their families and possessions. After seeking the Lord’s direction, he recovered all that had been taken and defeated the enemy force. The victory showed David’s effectiveness as a leader while he remained outside Israel’s central territory.

1Sa 30:1 On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag,…
1Sa 30:17-20 And David struck them down from twilight until…
1Sa 30:26 When David arrived in Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder…

and stayed in Ziklag two days.

Ziklag had been given to David by Achish of Gath and served as his base during his exile from Saul. The brief stay allowed David and his men to recover after the campaign before news arrived that Saul and Jonathan had died on Mount Gilboa.

1Sa 27:6-7 That day Achish gave him Ziklag, and to this day…
1Ch 12:1-2 Now these were the men who came to David at Ziklag,…
2Sa 2:1 Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, …

On the third day

Three days had passed since Saul’s defeat at Mount Gilboa. David had returned to Ziklag after rescuing his family and recovering what the Amalekites had taken.

1Sa 30:1 On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag,…
Est 5:1 On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes.…
Gen 22:4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place…

a man with torn clothes and dust on his head

His appearance showed public mourning and distress. He had come from the battlefield carrying news of Israel’s devastating loss.

1Sa 4:12 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line…
Jos 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown…
Job 2:12 When they lifted up their eyes from afar,…

arrived from Saul’s camp.

Saul’s army had been shattered by the Philistines, and Saul and his sons had died. The collapse of the camp marked the end of Saul’s reign.

1Sa 31:9-10 They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor,…
2Sa 4:4 And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame…
1Sa 4:16-17 “I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli.…

When he came to David,

David was in Ziklag, awaiting word of events in Israel. The messenger evidently believed David would regard Saul’s death as the removal of a rival.

2Sa 18:19-21 “Please let me run and tell the king the good news…
2Sa 3:20 When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron,…
2Sa 14:4 When the woman from Tekoa went to the king,…

he fell to the ground to pay him homage.

The man treated David as a leader worthy of honor, anticipating the transfer of authority to him.

1Sa 25:23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey,…
2Sa 9:6 And when Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul,…
Rut 2:10 At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground…

“Where have you come from?”

David sought to learn the source and reliability of the report before responding. The question opens the account of Israel’s defeat and the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, events that would bring Saul’s reign to its end.

2Ki 5:25 When Gehazi went in and stood before his master,……
Gen 16:8 “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from,…
1Sa 4:16 “I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli.…

David asked.

Though not yet king, David acted with the careful judgment expected of a leader, gathering the facts before making a decision.

1Sa 30:13 “I am an Egyptian,” he replied, “the slave of an Amalekite.”…
1Sa 17:26 David asked the men who were standing with him,……
1Sa 30:8 David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders?”…

“I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied.

The messenger had fled from the battlefield after Israel’s defeat by the Philistines. His arrival at Ziklag brought David the news that would mark the transition from Saul’s troubled reign to David’s kingship.

1Sa 31:1-2 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
1Sa 31:7-8 When the Israelites saw that the army of Israel had fled…
2Sa 4:10 when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’…

“What was the outcome?” David asked.

Having received news from the battlefield at Mount Gilboa, David seeks a full report concerning Israel, Saul, and Jonathan. His question reflects the weight of the national crisis and the transition now facing the kingdom.

2Sa 18:32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom…
1Sa 4:16-17 “I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli.…

“Please tell me.”

David listens before responding, allowing the messenger to give an account of the defeat. The news concerns not only the army’s loss but also the fate of the king and David’s closest friend.

1Sa 3:17 “What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked.…
1Sa 14:43 “Tell me what you have done,” Saul commanded him……

“The troops fled from the battle,” he replied.

Israel’s army had been routed by the Philistines, who gained control of key territory after the battle. The defeat brought deep humiliation and exposed the consequences of Saul’s failing leadership.

1Sa 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
1Sa 4:10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated…
2Ki 25:4-5 Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans…

“Many of them fell and died.

The heavy casualties reveal the scale of Israel’s disaster. Families, towns, and the nation as a whole would bear the loss caused by the battle.

2Ch 28:6 For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah…
2Ch 20:24 When the men of Judah came to a place…
Jdg 20:35 The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel…

And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”

Saul’s death ended his reign, while Jonathan’s death brought personal grief to David. Jonathan had remained faithful to David despite Saul’s hostility, and his loss marked the end of a noble friendship as Israel entered a new chapter.

1Sa 31:2 The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons…
1Ch 10:2 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons…
1Ch 10:6 So Saul died together with his three sons and all his house.

Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report,

David did not act on an unconfirmed report concerning the king and his son. As Israel’s future king, he sought reliable testimony about an event that would affect the entire nation. The messenger’s Amalekite identity heightens the tension, since the Amalekites had long opposed Israel.

2Sa 4:9-10 As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life…
1Sa 4:16-17 “I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli.…

“How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

Saul’s death ended his reign, and Jonathan’s death removed the heir most closely associated with him. David also had personal reason to ask: Jonathan was his beloved friend, and Saul remained the LORD’s anointed king despite their long conflict. The report required confirmation before David could respond to such a decisive loss for Israel.

1Sa 31:1-6 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
1Ch 10:1-6 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
1Sa 28:18-19 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His…

“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied,

Mount Gilboa was the scene of Israel’s devastating defeat by the Philistines and the death of Saul and his sons. The Amalekite presents himself as an accidental witness, but his account soon raises doubts about his motives.

1Sa 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
1Ch 10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
1Sa 28:4 The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem…

“and there was Saul, leaning on his spear,

He portrays Saul as wounded, isolated, and unable to escape. The spear once associated with Saul’s authority and warfare now appears as support in his final distress.

1Sa 22:6 Soon Saul learned that David and his men…
1Sa 31:4-5 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
1Ch 10:4-5 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…

with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.

The advancing Philistine forces underscore the hopelessness of Saul’s position. Israel’s king was surrounded by the enemy, and the battle marked the end of his reign.

1Sa 13:5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel…
1Sa 31:2-3 The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons…
1Ch 10:2-3 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons…

When he turned around and saw me,

The Amalekite claimed that Saul noticed him on Mount Gilboa after the Philistine defeat. His account presents Saul as wounded, isolated, and facing the end of his reign.

Jhn 20:14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus…
2Ki 2:24 Then he turned around, looked at them…
Gen 18:2 And Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby.…

he called out to me,

Saul’s call introduced the Amalekite’s claim that he became involved in the king’s final moments. The report stands in contrast to the account of Saul’s death in 1 Samuel 31, where Saul fell on his own sword.

1Sa 3:4 Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered…
Exo 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look,…
Gen 22:11 Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him…

and I answered, ‘Here I am!’

The Amalekite portrayed himself as immediately available to Saul. His later request for reward and his possession of Saul’s crown and armlet reveal that he expected David to favor him for reporting Saul’s death.

Gen 31:11 In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’…
Gen 46:2 And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision:…
Gen 22:1 Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him,…

‘Who are you?’ he asked.

Mortally wounded on Mount Gilboa, Saul sought to identify the man standing over him. The answer mattered, for Israel’s long conflict with Amalek gave added weight to the encounter at the end of Saul’s troubled reign.

Act 19:15 But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know”…
Jhn 8:25 “Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been…”…
Jhn 1:19 And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem…

So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

Saul’s former failure to carry out God’s command against Amalek had marked a decisive turning point in his kingship. The Amalekite later claimed to have killed Saul, though his account conflicts with the record that Saul fell on his own sword. His report would bring him before David, who would judge him for claiming to have struck down the Lord’s anointed.

2Sa 4:10 when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’…
1Sa 31:4-5 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
1Sa 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote…

Then he begged me,

The Amalekite claimed to have found Saul after Israel’s defeat on Mount Gilboa, presenting himself as an eyewitness to the king’s final moments.

Num 11:15 If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me now…
1Ki 19:4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.…
Jon 4:3 And now, O LORD, please take my life from me,…

‘Stand over me and kill me,

He portrayed Saul as seeking to avoid capture and disgrace at the hands of the Philistines. His report conflicts with the battle account of Saul’s death and was likely intended to win David’s favor.

1Sa 31:4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
Jdg 9:54 He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying…
1Ch 10:4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…

for agony has seized me,

In the Amalekite’s story, Saul was mortally wounded and suffering as Israel’s army collapsed around him. Saul’s downfall followed years of disobedience to God’s commands.

1Ch 10:3 When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers…
Psa 116:3 The ropes of death entangled me; the anguish…
Psa 38:8 I am numb and badly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

but my life still lingers.’

The Amalekite used this claim to explain how he obtained Saul’s crown and armlet. He wrongly assumed David would reward him for claiming to have killed the LORD’s anointed.

Job 33:22 He draws near to the Pit, and his life…
Psa 107:18 They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death.
Deu 28:66 So your life will hang in doubt before you, and…

So I stood over him and killed him,

The Amalekite claimed that he found Saul mortally wounded after the battle and killed him. His report conflicts with the account that Saul died by his own sword, suggesting that he invented the story to gain David’s favor.

1Sa 31:4-5 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
1Ch 10:4-5 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
2Sa 4:10 when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’…

because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive.

He presented his act as mercy toward a dying king, but Saul’s death marked the end of a reign already rejected by God because of Saul’s disobedience.

1Sa 31:6 So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer…
1Ch 10:6 So Saul died together with his three sons and all his house.
1Sa 28:19 Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you…

And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm,

These royal insignia identified Saul as Israel’s king. By bringing them from the battlefield, the Amalekite sought to provide visible proof of Saul’s death and of the collapse of his rule.

2Sa 12:30 Then he took the crown from the head of their king.…
1Ch 20:2 Then David took the crown from the head of their king.…
1Sa 31:9-10 They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor,…

and I have brought them here to my lord.”

Addressing David as “my lord,” he recognized David’s rising authority and expected reward. Instead, David judged him for claiming to have killed the Lord’s anointed.

2Sa 4:8 They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron…
1Sa 17:54 David took the head of the Philistine and brought it…
1Ch 10:12 all their men of valor set out and retrieved the bodies…

Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them,

David responded to the report of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths with public mourning. Though Saul had long sought David’s life, David still honored him as Israel’s king and the Lord’s anointed. Tearing his garments openly expressed the depth of his grief and distress over the loss of Saul, Jonathan, and the defeat of Israel.

2Ki 2:12 As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father,…
Jos 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown…
Job 1:20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head.…

and all the men who were with him did the same.

David’s followers joined him in mourning, sharing both his sorrow and his respect for the fallen king and prince. Their united response showed the seriousness of the tragedy and the loyalty they held toward David as their leader.

2Sa 13:31 Then the king stood up, tore his clothes,…
Job 2:12 When they lifted up their eyes from afar,…
2Sa 3:31 Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him,…

They mourned and wept and fasted until evening

David and his men responded to the report of Saul’s death with customary signs of deep grief. Their mourning showed respect for the fallen king, sorrow over Jonathan, and anguish over Israel’s defeat.

Jdg 20:26 Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel…
1Sa 31:13 Then they took their bones and buried them…
Est 4:3 In every province to which the king’s command and edict came…

for Saul and his son Jonathan,

Though Saul had pursued David, David still honored him as the LORD’s anointed king. Jonathan’s death brought personal sorrow because of his covenant friendship with David.

1Sa 31:2-6 The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons…
2Sa 21:12-14 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan…
1Sa 14:49-50 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi,…

and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel,

The loss extended beyond Saul’s family. Many Israelites had died in battle, leaving the nation weakened and vulnerable before the Philistines.

1Sa 12:22 Indeed, for the sake of His great name…
2Sa 7:23-24 And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation…
1Ki 8:51-53 For they are Your people and Your inheritance;…

because they had fallen by the sword.

Israel’s defeat on Mount Gilboa brought death to its king, prince, and soldiers. The tragedy marked the end of Saul’s reign and opened the way for David’s rise to the throne.

1Sa 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
Lam 2:21 Both young and old lie together in the dust of the streets.…
Ezk 32:20 They will fall among those slain by the sword.…

And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report,

David did not act on the news of Saul’s death without first questioning the messenger. Saul and Jonathan’s deaths marked a decisive turn for Israel, and David carefully established the man’s identity and connection to the events.

2Sa 18:31-32 Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king…
2Sa 4:10 when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’…

“Where are you from?”

The question brought out the man’s background and allegiance. His answer would also help explain why he had come to David and why he believed his report would be received favorably.

1Sa 30:13 “I am an Egyptian,” he replied, “the slave of an Amalekite.”…
Jos 9:8 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua.…
Gen 42:7 And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them,…

“I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered.

The messenger identified himself as one living among Israel but not belonging to Israel by birth. His position as an outsider did not excuse his actions or remove his responsibility for what he claimed to have done.

Psa 39:12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help;…
Rut 2:10 At this, she fell on her face, bowing low to the ground…
Gen 23:4 I am a foreigner and an outsider among you.…

“I am an Amalekite.”

Amalek had long opposed Israel and remained under God’s judgment. Saul’s earlier failure to carry out God’s command against Amalek had contributed to his rejection as king. The Amalekite’s presence at Saul’s death and his claim to have killed the Lord’s anointed set the stage for David’s judgment.

Deu 25:17-19 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way…
1Sa 15:2-3 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed…
Exo 17:14-16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll…

So David asked him,

David addressed the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul after Israel’s defeat by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. Though Saul had pursued David and sought his life, David recognized that Saul remained Israel’s king by God’s appointment.

1Sa 30:13-15 “I am an Egyptian,” he replied, “the slave of an Amalekite.”…
2Sa 4:9-12 As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life…

“Why were you not afraid

The Amalekite’s account showed no reverence for the office God had given Saul. David understood that taking the king’s life was not merely a political act but an offense against God’s established authority.

1Sa 26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him…
1Sa 24:10 Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes…

to lift your hand

The Amalekite claimed to have acted deliberately against Saul, bringing about the death of the wounded king.

1Sa 24:6 So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid…
1Sa 26:11 But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand…

to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”

Saul had been anointed by Samuel as Israel’s first king. David had repeatedly refused opportunities to harm Saul because he would not seize the throne by violence or strike the man God had appointed. This anointing foreshadowed Christ, the Messiah, meaning “Anointed One.”

Psa 105:15 “Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!”
1Ch 16:22 ‘Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!’

Then David summoned one of the young men

David acted with the authority God had given him as Saul’s successor. In the aftermath of Saul’s death, he established that the king of Israel could not be treated as a target for personal ambition or reward.

2Sa 13:17 Instead, he called to his attendant and said,…
Est 4:5 Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s…
1Sa 16:11 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons”…

and said, “Go, execute him!”

The Amalekite had claimed credit for killing Saul, expecting favor from David. Instead, David judged him by his own testimony. Though Saul had pursued David, he remained the Lord’s anointed, and David would not allow his death to be used for political advantage.

1Sa 22:17 Then the king ordered the guards at his side…
1Ki 2:29 It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled…
2Ki 10:25 When he had finished making the burnt offering,…

So the young man struck him down, and he died.

The immediate execution showed the seriousness of the offense and reinforced David’s earlier refusal to harm Saul. David’s rule began with justice rather than vengeance, honoring God’s authority over the throne of Israel.

1Ki 2:25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada,…
1Ki 2:46 Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada,…
1Sa 22:18 So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down…

For David had said to the Amalekite,

The Amalekite came to David after Saul’s death, carrying Saul’s crown and armlet and expecting favor from the man who would become king. His account contradicted the report that Saul had taken his own life, but David judged him according to his own confession.

2Sa 4:9-12 As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life…
1Ki 2:31-32 And the king replied, “Do just as he says.…
Jos 7:19-26 So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD,…

“Your blood be on your own head

David declared that the man bore full responsibility for the judgment brought upon him. Rather than rewarding him for Saul’s death, David ordered his execution.

Act 18:6 But when they opposed and insulted him,…
Ezk 33:4-5 Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn…
Jos 2:19 If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street,…

because your own mouth has testified against you,

The Amalekite condemned himself by claiming credit for killing Saul. Whether his report was true or fabricated, he presented himself as the one who had struck down Israel’s king.

Job 15:6 Your own mouth, not mine, condemns you;…
Luk 19:22 His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you…
Mat 12:37 For by your words you will be acquitted,…

saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

Saul remained the king God had appointed, despite his sin and his hostility toward David. David would not seize the throne through violence or approve the killing of the man the LORD had anointed, foreshadowing Jesus Christ, the Messiah, meaning “anointed one.”

1Sa 26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him…
1Sa 24:6 So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid…
1Sa 26:11 But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand…

David’s Song for Saul and Jonathan

Then David took up this lament

David composed a funeral song after learning of the deaths at Mount Gilboa. Such laments gave public expression to grief and preserved the memory of those who had fallen.

2Sa 3:33-34 And the king sang this lament for Abner: Should Abner die…
2Ch 35:25 Then Jeremiah lamented over Josiah, and to this day…
Ezk 19:1 “As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel

for Saul

Though Saul had pursued David and sought his life, David honored him as Israel’s first king, the Lord’s anointed, and his own father-in-law. Saul’s disobedience had led to the loss of his dynasty, yet his death remained a national tragedy.

1Sa 31:4-6 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
1Ch 10:4-6 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
1Sa 28:19 Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you…

and his son Jonathan,

Jonathan was David’s covenant friend and loyal supporter. He recognized that God had chosen David to reign and protected him despite Saul’s hostility. Jonathan’s death brought David the loss of a beloved friend, faithful ally, and future source of unity within Israel.

1Sa 31:2 The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons…
1Ch 10:2 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons…
2Sa 21:12-14 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan…

and he ordered

David responded to Saul and Jonathan’s death by preserving a public lament that honored both men. His action showed respect for Saul as Israel’s fallen king and grief for Jonathan, his beloved friend.

Deu 31:19 Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song…
Deu 31:22 So that very day Moses wrote down this song…

that the sons of Judah

David began with his own tribe, which would soon recognize him as king and lead the nation.

1Ch 4:1 The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi…
Num 10:14 First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out…
Jdg 1:2 “Judah shall go up,” answered the LORD. “Indeed,…

be taught

The lament was to be remembered and passed down, keeping before Judah the courage, loss, and cost of Israel’s defeat.

Deu 4:9 Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves…
Deu 6:7 And you shall teach them diligently to your children…
Psa 78:5 For He established a testimony in Jacob,…

the Song of the Bow.

The bow recalls Jonathan’s skill as a warrior and honors the military strength of both Saul and Jonathan.

Psa 18:34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can…
Psa 144:1 Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock,…
1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble…

It is written in the Book of Jashar:

The song was preserved in an established collection of Israel’s heroic poems, giving lasting witness to the deaths of Saul and Jonathan.

Jos 10:13 So the sun stood still and the moon stopped…
Num 21:14 Therefore it is stated in the Book of the Wars of the LORD:…
1Ch 29:29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last,…

“Your glory, O Israel,

Saul and Jonathan had been Israel’s honor and strength, representing the nation’s kingly leadership and military courage. Their deaths brought public grief and national humiliation.

1Sa 4:21 And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, ……
1Sa 15:29 Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie…

lies slain on your heights.

Mount Gilboa, the battlefield where they fell before the Philistines, became the setting of Israel’s disaster. The place associated with defense and strength now bore witness to defeat.

1Sa 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
1Sa 31:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead…

How the mighty have fallen!

David mourns the loss of men whose courage and position had made them pillars of Israel.

2Sa 3:38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize…
Ezk 32:27 They do not lie down with the fallen warriors of old…

Tell it not in Gath;

Gath, one of the five leading Philistine cities and Goliath’s hometown, represented Israel’s persistent enemy. David grieved not only Saul and Jonathan’s deaths but also the dishonor their defeat could bring upon Israel if the Philistines heard of it.

Mic 1:10 Do not tell it in Gath; do not weep at all.…
1Sa 17:23 And as he was speaking with them, suddenly the champion…
1Ch 10:9-10 They stripped Saul, cut off his head, took his armor…

proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,

Ashkelon was another important Philistine stronghold. News announced publicly in its streets would quickly become a cause for national celebration among Israel’s enemies.

Zep 2:4 For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon…
Amo 1:8 I will cut off the ruler of Ashdod and the one…
Zec 9:5 Ashkelon will see and fear; Gaza will writhe in agony…

lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,

Women commonly took part in public celebrations after military victories. Their rejoicing over Saul’s death and Israel’s loss would deepen the shame of the defeat.

Jdg 16:23-24 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together…
Psa 35:19 Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause,…
1Sa 31:9-10 They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor,…

and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

David uses Israel’s covenant distinction to stress the disgrace of God’s people being defeated by those who did not know or worship the Lord.

1Sa 17:26 David asked the men who were standing with him,……
Psa 35:26 May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded…
Ezk 28:10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised……

O mountains of Gilboa,

Gilboa overlooks the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel and was the setting of Israel’s disastrous defeat by the Philistines, where Saul and his sons died. David’s lament directs his grief toward the place marked by the fall of Israel’s king and princes.

1Sa 31:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead…
1Ch 10:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead,…
1Sa 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…

may you have no dew or rain,

Dew and rain were essential to the land’s productivity and were recognized as gifts from God. David poetically calls for Gilboa to become barren, matching the sorrow brought by the loss of Saul and Jonathan.

1Ki 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers…
Hag 1:10 Therefore, on account of you the heavens have withheld…
Zec 14:17 And should any of the families of the earth not go up…

no fields yielding offerings of grain.

A barren land could produce neither food nor grain for worship. The imagined desolation reflects the national loss and the interruption of Israel’s strength and order after the king’s death.

Jol 1:9 Grain and drink offerings have been cut off…
Jol 1:10 The field is ruined; the land mourns…
Deu 28:38-40 You will sow much seed in the field, but harvest little…

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,

The battlefield became the place where Israel’s defenders were struck down and dishonored, their defiled shields signifying defeat and the nation’s vulnerability. Saul’s death exposed the nation to its enemies and brought his troubled reign to its final end.

Psa 76:3 There He shattered the flaming arrows, the shield…
Jdg 5:8 When they chose new gods, then war came to their gates.…
Jer 46:3-4 “Deploy your shields, small and large; advance for battle!…

the shield of Saul,

Saul had been chosen and anointed as Israel’s first king, and David continued to regard him as the Lord’s anointed despite Saul’s failures and hostility toward him. Mentioning Saul’s shield makes the lament personal as well as national.

1Sa 31:4-6 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
1Ch 10:4-6 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword…
1Sa 31:9 They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor,…

no longer anointed with oil.

A warrior’s shield was treated with oil for protection and readiness in battle. Saul’s shield would never again be prepared for war, for Saul’s kingship and military service had ended at Gilboa.

Isa 21:5 They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet,…
1Sa 10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head…
Psa 92:10 But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;…

From the blood of the slain,

David’s lament recalls the terrible cost of Israel’s battles against the Philistines. Saul and Jonathan died while defending the nation, along with many other Israelites on Mount Gilboa.

Psa 68:23 that your foot may be dipped in the blood of your foes……
Psa 79:10 Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?”…
Isa 9:5 For every trampling boot of battle and every garment…

from the fat of the mighty,

The fallen included Israel’s strongest warriors. Their deaths left the kingdom weakened at a critical moment and marked the end of Saul’s military leadership.

Psa 78:31 God’s anger flared against them, and He put to death…
Ezk 39:17-18 And as for you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says:…
Isa 34:6 The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood.…

the bow of Jonathan did not retreat,

Jonathan fought with courage to the end. Though David had been chosen to succeed Saul, he honors Jonathan as a faithful prince, warrior, and friend.

1Ch 12:2 they were archers using both the right and left hands…
Psa 78:9 The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle.
Psa 18:34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can…

and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

Saul had led Israel in many battles, and his sword did not return empty, meaning it was effective in battle. He had often delivered the nation from its enemies. David’s lament does not ignore Saul’s failures, but remembers his service and the tragedy of his death.

1Sa 15:8 He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted…
Jer 48:10 Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work…
Deu 32:41-42 When I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it…

Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life,

Saul’s early reign brought unity and deliverance to Israel, and Jonathan proved himself a courageous prince and faithful warrior. Though Saul’s later years were marked by disobedience and conflict with David, David’s lament remembers both men with honor and acknowledges the affection Israel had for them.

1Sa 18:1 After David had finished speaking with Saul,…
1Sa 20:17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him…
Pro 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother…

were not divided in death.

Jonathan fell in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, and Saul died soon afterward on the same battlefield. Their shared death brought the house of Saul’s rule to its end and opened the way for David’s kingship.

Rut 1:17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.…
1Sa 20:42 And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace.…
Rom 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, …

They were swifter than eagles;

Saul and Jonathan were remembered as capable warriors whose speed and skill made them formidable in Israel’s battles.

Lam 4:19 Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky;…
Jer 4:13 Behold, he advances like the clouds,…
Deu 28:49 The LORD will bring a nation from afar…

they were stronger than lions.

Their courage and strength had defended Israel against its enemies, making their defeat and death a national tragedy.

Jdg 14:18 Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city…
Pro 30:30 a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat…
1Ch 11:22 And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor…

O daughters of Israel,

David calls the nation to mourn, addressing its women as those who publicly shared in Israel’s grief.

1Sa 18:6-7 As the troops were returning home after David had killed…
Sng 3:11 Come out, O daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon…
Isa 3:16-17 The LORD also says: “Because the daughters of Zion…

weep for Saul,

Though Saul had fallen through disobedience, he remained Israel’s anointed king and had led the nation in battle against its enemies.

1Sa 15:35 And to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul…
1Sa 31:13 Then they took their bones and buried them…
1Ch 10:12 all their men of valor set out and retrieved the bodies…

who clothed you in scarlet and luxury,

His victories brought security and spoil that benefited Israel.

Pro 31:21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household.…
Est 8:15 Mordecai went out from the presence of the king…
Gen 41:42 Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger,…

who decked your garments with ornaments of gold.

The loss of Saul meant the loss of a king whose reign had brought honor, prosperity, and protection to the people.

Ezk 16:10-13 I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals…
Psa 45:13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber;…
Isa 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult…

How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle!

David mourns the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, Israel’s king and prince, who fell while defending the nation against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. Their defeat brought a devastating national loss, ending Saul’s reign and removing Jonathan, a courageous leader and David’s covenant friend. The lament recognizes their strength and valor while grieving the tragedy of their fall.

1Sa 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
1Ch 10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…
2Sa 3:38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize…

Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

Jonathan died on the slopes of Mount Gilboa, where Israel’s army was overwhelmed. David’s sorrow is deeply personal, for Jonathan had loved him faithfully and supported God’s purpose for David despite Saul’s hostility. The heights that should have provided military advantage became the setting of Israel’s humiliation and loss.

1Sa 31:2 The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons…
1Ch 10:2 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons…
1Sa 31:8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead…

I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.

David mourned Jonathan as a covenant companion whose loyalty remained steadfast through Saul’s hostility. Though Saul sought David’s life, Jonathan recognized God’s purpose for David and chose faithfulness over his own claim to the throne.

1Sa 20:41 Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together…
1Sa 20:42 And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace.…
1Sa 31:13 Then they took their bones and buried them…

You were delightful to me;

Jonathan strengthened David during years of danger and uncertainty. Their friendship brought David encouragement, protection, and confidence in God’s promises.

1Sa 18:1 After David had finished speaking with Saul,…
1Sa 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David…
Pro 27:9 Oil and incense bring joy to the heart, and the counsel…

your love to me was extraordinary,

Jonathan’s love was shown in costly loyalty. He defended David, warned him of Saul’s plans, and bound himself to David’s future even when it meant surrendering his own royal expectations.

1Sa 20:17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him…
Jhn 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life…
Pro 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother…

surpassing the love of women.

David speaks of the uncommon depth and constancy of their covenant friendship, not of a romantic relationship. Jonathan’s sacrificial devotion proved more dependable than the political marriages and family alliances common among kings.

Sng 8:6 Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm.…
Sng 8:7 Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep…
Pro 5:18-19 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice…

How the mighty have fallen,

David mourns Saul and Jonathan as Israel’s fallen leaders and warriors. Saul had been Israel’s first king, chosen and anointed by God, while Jonathan had proved himself courageous in battle and steadfast in friendship with David. Their deaths at Mount Gilboa marked the end of Saul’s reign and left Israel exposed during a time of conflict with the Philistines. David’s grief recognizes the weight of their loss without ignoring Saul’s failures.

Ezk 32:27 They do not lie down with the fallen warriors of old…
1Sa 31:6-7 So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer…
1Ch 10:1-7 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and many fell…

and the weapons of war have perished!”

Saul and Jonathan had been central to Israel’s defense, and their death represented a severe military and national loss. Yet Israel’s future did not rest in its king, prince, or weapons. God would preserve His people and establish David as king according to His purpose.

Psa 76:3 There He shattered the flaming arrows, the shield…
Psa 46:9 He makes wars to cease throughout the earth;…
1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble…

This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com.



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