2 Samuel 1:20-21 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 1:21

Let there be no dew ... - For a similar passionate form of poetical malediction, compare Job 3:3-10; Jeremiah 20:14-18.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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 1:20

2 Samuel 1:20. Tell it not in Gath, &c. Such a lamentable misfortune and disgrace, David would, if possible, have concealed from all the enemies of Israel. And he finely insinuates in these words what matter of triumph it would be to the Philistines, and seems scarce able to bear the thought of it, especially as it would be greatly to the dishonour both of God and his people. Lest the daughters, &c. He mentions these, because it was the custom of women in those times and places to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 1:21

2 Samuel 1:21. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, &c. This is not an imprecation, but a passionate expression of the sorrow and horror which he felt at this public disgrace and loss, which were such as if he thought every person or thing which contributed to it ought to bear tokens of the divine displeasure, such as the earth does when it is deprived of the influence of dew and rain. Nor fields of offerings That is, fertile fields, which may produce fair and goodly fruits... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:1-27

1:1-4:12 CIVIL WAR AFTER SAUL’S DEATHMourning for Saul and Jonathan (1:1-27)David learnt of Saul’s death from one of Saul’s own men, an Amalekite who had become a citizen of Israel (1:1-4; see v. 13). The man clearly thought that by adding a few details to the story and by bringing Saul’s crown to David, he could win David’s favour (5-10; cf. 4:10).As long as Saul lived, David had regarded him as the Lord’s anointed king and had consistently refused to harm him (cf. 1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 1:21

The shield of Saul. Omit the italics that follow, and supply instead "the weapon of one anointed with oil", the Hebrew k e li (or keli?) "weapons" being read instead of b e ll in the first edition of the Hebrew Bible, 1488, and the Syriac and Arabic Versions and Chaldee paraphrase. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 1:21

2 Samuel 1:21. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, &c.— Dr. Delaney renders this verse thus: Mountains of Gilboa, nor dew nor rain upon you, nor fields of waved offerings; for there the shield of the brave was cast away; the shield of Saul, the weapons of the anointed with oil: and Houbigant thus: Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew descend upon you, nor rain upon you, O ye fertile fields: [such as afford in abundance first-fruits to be offered to God:] For there the shield of the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 1:21

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,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 1:1-27

1. David’s discovery of Saul and Jonathan’s deaths ch. 11 Samuel 31 and 2 Samuel 1 record the transition that took place in the royal leadership of Israel. 1 Samuel 31 contains the factual account of Saul’s death. One writer saw no reason why both accounts could not be true. [Note: See Leon Wood, Israel’s United Monarchy, p. 168] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 1:17-27

David’s lament for Saul and Jonathan 1:17-27Students of David’s lament over Saul and Jonathan’s deaths have called it the Song of the Bow (cf. 2 Samuel 1:22). Laments over the deaths of individuals are not uncommon in the Old Testament (cf. 1 Kings 13:30; Jeremiah 22:18; Jeremiah 34:5; Ezekiel 28:12-19; Ezekiel 32:2-15). The only other of David’s laments over an individual’s death recorded in Scripture were for Abner, Saul’s commander-in-chief (2 Samuel 3:33-34), and David’s son Absalom (2... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 1:1-27

The Lament of David over Saul and Jonathan1. There is no break between the two books of Samuel; they really form one continuous narrative. This v. is a continuation of 1 Samuel 30, which describes David’s successful attack upon Ziklag. He had not heard of the events narrated in 1 Samuel 31.2. With his clothes rent, etc.] In 1 Samuel 4:12, which describes the arrival of the messenger at Shiloh with tidings of the capture of the ark, these were the same indications that he was the bearer of evil... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 1:21

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 1:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 1:21

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:1-27

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Samuel 1:21

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 1:21

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 1:21

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 1:1-27

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 1:17-27

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 1:1-27

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