2 Samuel 1:19

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 1:19

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places ,.... The high mountains of Gilboa, where Saul their king, and Jonathan his son, a prince of the blood, and natural heir to the crown, and multitudes of young men, the flower of the nation, were wounded and slain. Here begins the lamentation, or the elegiac song: how are the mighty fallen ! mighty men of war, strong and valiant, as Saul and his sons were, and the soldiers in his army. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:11-27

The facts of the section are: 1 . Having become assured, through the testimony of the Amalekite, of the defeat of Israel in the death of Saul and Jonathan, David and his men spent the rest of the day in mourning. 2 . On the morrow David examines the Amalekite as to the particulars of Saul's death, and being shocked at the sin and shame of slaying the Lord's anointed, he condemns the man to death. 3 . Being left to his own reflections on the sad event which had happened to Israel,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:19

The beauty of Israel. The word zebi means both "beauty" and also "the gazelle." Ewald takes it in the second sense, and explains it of Jonathan. "everywhere the first in courage, in activity, and speed; slender also and of well-made figure, and whose personal beauty and swiftness of foot in attack or retreat gained for him among the troops the name of 'the gazelle.' The Syriac Version also translates 'gazelle,'" but Ephrem says that the whole Israelite nation is meant, the flower of whoso... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:19

How are the mighty fallen! This expression suggests numerous refleclions on— I. THE VANITY OF MAN in the glory of his might. He is proud of his exalted state, his wisdom, strength, or riches; and he is admired and envied by others. But: 1 . How precarious his position! He stands on "slippery places." All his grandeur rests on life, than which nothing is more unsubstantial or uncertain. 2 . How futile his purposes! Formed in ignorance, weakness, and presumption, they... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 1:19-27

David's lamentation over Saul and Jonathan. In this lamentation there is— I. A DECLARATION OF THE CAUSE OF MOURNING . "O pride of Israel, on thy high places slain! Alas! fallen are the heroes." ( 2 Samuel 1:19 .) This is the keynote. It contains "the theme of the entire ode." 1 . Men of rich endowments are the ornament, beauty, and glory of a people. 2 . Such men are sometimes stricken down suddenly and under unexpected circumstances. "Not on the level... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 1:19

The beauty ... - i. e. Saul and Jonathan who were the chief ornament and pride of Israel, and slain upon “high places” 2 Samuel 1:25, namely, on Mount Gilboa. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 1:19

2 Samuel 1:19. The beauty of Israel Hebrew, הצבי , hatsebi; the honour, glory, flower, or ornament, meaning Saul and Jonathan, and their army. Delaney understands the expression only of Jonathan, and observes, as Jonathan’s death touched him nearest, it was natural he should be the first object of his lamentation; and, to put it out of all doubt that Jonathan is meant, he varies the expression in a subsequent verse Jonathan slain in thy high places! The word rendered slain, חלל , ... 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 1:19

beauty = gazelle. Symbolic of beauty and grace. read more

Group of Brands