24 Ye daughters H1323 of Israel, H3478 weep over H1058 Saul, H7586 who clothed H3847 you in scarlet, H8144 with other delights, H5730 who put H5927 on ornaments H5716 of gold H2091 upon your apparel. H3830
Moreover the LORD H3068 saith, H559 Because H3282 the daughters H1323 of Zion H6726 are haughty, H1361 and walk H3212 with stretched forth H5186 necks H1627 and wanton H8265 eyes, H5869 walking H1980 and mincing H2952 as they go, H3212 and making a tinkling H5913 with their feet: H7272 Therefore the Lord H136 will smite with a scab H5596 the crown of the head H6936 of the daughters H1323 of Zion, H6726 and the LORD H3068 will discover H6168 their secret parts. H6596 In that day H3117 the Lord H136 will take away H5493 the bravery H8597 of their tinkling ornaments H5914 about their feet, and their cauls, H7636 and their round tires like the moon, H7720 The chains, H5188 and the bracelets, H8285 and the mufflers, H7479 The bonnets, H6287 and the ornaments of the legs, H6807 and the headbands, H7196 and the tablets, H5315 H1004 and the earrings, H3908 The rings, H2885 and nose H639 jewels, H5141 The changeable suits of apparel, H4254 and the mantles, H4595 and the wimples, H4304 and the crisping pins, H2754 The glasses, H1549 and the fine linen, H5466 and the hoods, H6797 and the vails. H7289 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell H1314 there shall be stink; H4716 and instead of a girdle H2290 a rent; H5364 and instead of well set H4639 hair H4748 baldness; H7144 and instead of a stomacher H6614 a girding H4228 of sackcloth; H8242 and burning H3587 instead of beauty. H3308 Thy men H4962 shall fall H5307 by the sword, H2719 and thy mighty H1369 in the war. H4421 And her gates H6607 shall lament H578 and mourn; H56 and she being desolate H5352 shall sit H3427 upon the ground. H776
In like manner G5615 also, G2532 that women G1135 adorn G2885 themselves G1438 in G1722 modest G2887 apparel, G2689 with G3326 shamefacedness G127 and G2532 sobriety; G4997 not G3361 with G1722 broided hair, G4117 or G2228 gold, G5557 or G2228 pearls, G3135 or G2228 costly G4185 array; G2441 But G235 (which G3739 becometh G4241 women G1135 professing G1861 godliness) G2317 with G1223 good G18 works. G2041
Whose G3739 adorning G2889 let it G2077 not G3756 be G2077 that outward G1855 adorning of plaiting G1708 the hair, G2359 and G2532 of wearing G4025 of gold, G5553 or G2228 of putting on G1745 of apparel; G2440 But G235 let it be the hidden G2927 man G444 of the heart, G2588 in G1722 that which is not corruptible, G862 even the ornament of a meek G4239 and G2532 quiet G2272 spirit, G4151 which G3739 is G2076 in the sight G1799 of God G2316 of great price. G4185 For G1063 after this manner G3779 in the old time G4218 the holy G40 women G1135 also, G2532 who G3588 trusted G1679 in G1909 God, G2316 adorned G2885 themselves, G1438 being in subjection G5293 unto their own G2398 husbands: G435
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 1
Commentary on 2 Samuel 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
2Sa 1:1-16. An Amalekite Brings Tidings of Saul's Death.
1. David had abode two days in Ziklag—Though greatly reduced by the Amalekite incendiaries, that town was not so completely sacked and destroyed, but David and his six hundred followers, with their families, could still find some accommodation.
2-12. a man came out of the camp from Saul—As the narrative of Saul's death, given in the last chapter, is inspired, it must be considered the true account, and the Amalekite's story a fiction of his own, invented to ingratiate himself with David, the presumptive successor to the throne. David's question, "How went the matter?" evinces the deep interest he took in the war, an interest that sprang from feelings of high and generous patriotism, not from views of ambition. The Amalekite, however, judging him to be actuated by a selfish principle, fabricated a story improbable and inconsistent, which he thought would procure him a reward. Having probably witnessed the suicidal act of Saul, he thought of turning it to his own account, and suffered the penalty of his grievously mistaken calculation (compare 2Sa 1:9 with 1Sa 31:4, 5).
10. the crown—a small metallic cap or wreath, which encircled the temples, serving the purpose of a helmet, with a very small horn projecting in front, as the emblem of power.
the bracelet that was on his arm—the armlet worn above the elbow; an ancient mark of royal dignity. It is still worn by kings in some Eastern countries.
13-15. David said unto the young man … Whence art thou?—The man had at the outset stated who he was. But the question was now formally and judicially put. The punishment inflicted on the Amalekite may seem too severe, but the respect paid to kings in the West must not be regarded as the standard for that which the East may think due to royal station. David's reverence for Saul, as the Lord's anointed, was in his mind a principle on which he had faithfully acted on several occasions of great temptation. In present circumstances it was especially important that his principle should be publicly known; and to free himself from the imputation of being in any way accessory to the execrable crime of regicide was the part of a righteous judge, no less than of a good politician.
2Sa 1:17-27. David Laments Saul and Jonathan.
17, 18. David lamented with this lamentation—It has always been customary for Eastern people, on the death of great kings and warriors, to celebrate their qualities and deeds in funeral songs. This inimitable pathetic elegy is supposed by many writers to have become a national war song, and to have been taught to the young Israelites under the name of "The Bow," in conformity with the practice of Hebrew and many classical writers in giving titles to their songs from the principal theme (Ps 22:1; 56:1; 60:1; 80:1; 100:1). Although the words "the use of" are a supplement by our translators, they may be rightly introduced, for the natural sense of this parenthetical verse is, that David took immediate measures for instructing the people in the knowledge and practice of archery, their great inferiority to the enemy in this military arm having been the main cause of the late national disaster.
19. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places—literally, "the gazelle" or "antelope of Israel." In Eastern countries, that animal is the chosen type of beauty and symmetrical elegance of form.
how are the mighty fallen!—This forms the chorus.
21. let there be no dew, neither let there be rain—To be deprived of the genial atmospheric influences which, in those anciently cultivated hills, seem to have reared plenty of first-fruits in the corn 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 valor in former battles, forgetful of their own reputation and their country's honor, threw away their shields and fled from the field. This dishonorable and cowardly conduct is alluded to with exquisitely touching pathos.
24-27. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, &c.—The fondness for dress, which anciently distinguished Oriental women, is their characteristic still. It appears in their love of bright, gay, and divers colors, in profuse display of ornaments, and in various other forms. The inmost depths of the poet's feeling are stirred, and his amiable disposition appears in the strong desire to celebrate the good qualities of Saul, as well as Jonathan. But the praises of the latter form the burden of the poem, which begins and ends with that excellent prince.