Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 1

Verses 1-27

2 Samuel 1:7-27 David Laments the Death of Saul and His Sons 2 Samuel 1:7-27 records David’s lament over the death of Saul and Jonathan. David was a man of deep emotion on many occasions (2 Samuel 3:32).

2 Samuel 3:32, “And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.”

2 Samuel 1:10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

2 Samuel 1:10 Comments - Why is this man telling David a conflicting story from what really happened in 1 Samuel 31:0? It seems that this messenger wanted a reward from David.

2 Samuel 4:10, “When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings :”

2 Samuel 1:14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?

2 Samuel 1:14 “the LORD'S anointed” - Comments - Saul was one of the great deliverers of the national of Israel. He united the kingdom for the first time since the days of Joshua (1 Samuel 14:47). He subdued all the nations who had been oppressing Israel for the past three hundred years (1 Samuel 14:47-48). No one in the time of the judges had performed so many great feats by the power of God at work in him. Thus, David rightly calls him “the Lord's anointed”. No Israelite could look down upon such a record of deliverance. Every Israelite felt the unity and strength of the nation of Israel because of the victories won by King Saul.

1 Samuel 14:47-48, “So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them. And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.”

2 Samuel 1:18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

2 Samuel 1:18 “Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow” - Word Study on “the use of the bow” Strong says the Hebrew word ( קֶשֶׁת ) (H7198) means, “bow.” The Hebrew literally reads, “the bow” for the phrase “the use of the bow.” The words the use of are implied by the context. Most modern English translations read, “the song of the bow,” which is supported by the context of this passage of Scripture. For example, the YLT reads, “and he saith to teach the sons of Judah ‘The Bow;’lo, it is written on the book of the Upright.” Strong says this Hebrew word comes from the Hebrew root word ( קוֹשׁ ) (H6983), which means “to bend.”

Note that Saul's father was named “Kish” ( קִישׁ ) (H7027), which means “bow,” and it also comes from the root word ( קוֹשׁ ) (H6983), which means, “to bend.” ( Strong)

Comments - The bow was considered a symbol of strength. Note:

Genesis 48:22, “Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow .”

Joshua 24:12, “And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow .”

2 Kings 13:15-17, “And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance , and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.”

Also, the bow was a symbol of the tribe of Benjamin. The men of this tribe were highly regarded for their skill in using the bow and arrow.

1 Chronicles 12:2, “They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.”

2 Chronicles 14:8, “And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.”

2 Chronicles 17:17, “And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.”

2 Samuel 1:18 “behold, it is written in the book of Jasher” - Comments - Or, “the book of the Upright.” This book is mentioned one other time in the Scriptures, testifying to fact that is did exist.

Joshua 10:13, “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher ? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.”

2 Samuel 1:19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

2 Samuel 1:19 “The beauty of Israel” - Comments - Saul was a very handsome man (1 Samuel 9:2).

1 Samuel 9:2, “And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.”