2 Samuel 1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 1

In the close of the foregoing book (with which this is connected as a continuation of the same history) we had Saul?s exit; he went down slain to the pit, though we was the terror of the mighty in the land of the living. We are now to look towards the rising sun, and to enquire where David is, and what he is doing. In this chapter we have, I. Tidings brought him to Ziklag of the death of Saul and Jonathan, by an Amalekite, who undertook to give him a particular narrative of it, 2 Sam. 1:1-10.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 1

This book is the history of the reign of king David. We had in the foregoing book an account of his designation to the government, and his struggles with Saul, which ended at length in the death of his persecutor. This book begins with his accession to the throne, and is entirely taken up with the affairs of the government during the forty years he reigned, and therefore is entitled by the LXX. The Third Book of the Kings. It gives us an account of David's triumphs and his troubles. I.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:1-10

Here is, I. David settling again in Ziklag, his own city, after he had rescued his family and friends out of the hands of the Amalekites (2 Sam. 1:1): He abode in Ziklag. Thence he was now sending presents to his friends (1 Sam. 30:26), and there he was ready to receive those that came into his interests; not men in distress and debt, as his first followers were, but persons of quality in their country, mighty men, men of war, and captains of thousands (as we find, 1 Chron. 12:1, 8, 20); such... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:11-16

Here is, I. David's reception of these tidings. So far was he from falling into a transport of joy, as the Amalekite expected, that he fell into a passion of weeping, rent his clothes (2 Sam. 1:11), mourned and fasted (2 Sam. 1:12), not only for his people Israel and Jonathan his friend but for Saul his enemy. This he did, not only as a man of honour, in observance of that decorum which forbids us to insult over those that are fallen, and requires us to attend our relations to the grave with... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:17-27

When David had rent his clothes, mourned, and wept, and fasted, for the death of Saul, and done justice upon him who made himself guilty of it, one would think he had made full payment of the debt of honour he owed to his memory; yet this is not all: we have here a poem he wrote on that occasion; for he was a great master of his pen as well as of his sword. By this elegy he designed both to express his own sorrow for this great calamity and to impress the like on the minds of others, who ought... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 1

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 1 This chapter contains an account of the death of Saul and Jonathan, as related to David by an Amalekite, 2 Samuel 1:1 ; of the sorrow he and his men were filled with at the news of it, 2 Samuel 1:11 ; of his order to put to death the messenger that brought the tidings, for his concern in the death of Saul, according to his own testimony, 2 Samuel 1:13 ; and of a lamentation composed by David on this occasion, 2 Samuel 1:17 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:1

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul ,.... The third day after, as appears from the next verse: when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites ; as related in 1 Samuel 30:17 , and David had abode two days in Ziklag ; which, though fired by the Amalekites, was not utterly consumed, but there was still some convenience for the lodging of David and his men; within this time he sent his presents to several places in the tribe of Judah, of which mention is made in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:2

It came to pass on the third day ,.... After the battle was fought, in which Saul was slain: that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul ; that is, from them who were in the camp with Saul, for he was dead. Some say F4 Pesikta in Jarchi in loc. this was Doeg the Edomite, which is not likely that he should come with such tidings to David; besides, if he was Saul's armourbearer, as others say, see 1 Samuel 31:4 ; he died with Saul; nor his son, as others F5 Tanchuma in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:3

And David said unto him, from whence comest thou ?.... It is very likely by his appearance and circumstances he suspected from whence he came: and he said unto him, out of the camp of Israel am I escaped ; which plainly suggested that that was in danger, confusion, and distress. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:4

And David said unto him, how went the matter? I pray thee, tell me ,.... That is, how went the battle? on which side the victory? and he answered, that the people are fled from the battle ; meaning the people of Israel, they had given way, and turned their backs upon their enemies, and were fled: and many of the people also are fallen and dead ; fell by the sword in the pursuit of them, and were not only wounded, but were slain, and these great numbers of them: and Saul and... read more

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