Bible Commentaries

the slaughter. Compare 1 Samuel 30:17

Ziklag. Compare 1 Samuel 27:6.

the third day. See note on 1 Samuel 30:12. behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.

he answered. He thought he brought news which would be welcomed.

behold . . . lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

Amalekite. Thus Saul was dishonoured by one whom his disobedience spared. Compare 1 Samuel 15:3 and Exodus 17:16.

He said. His whole story was a fabrication. See the facts in 1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Samuel 31:5.

life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

fallen: i.e. upon his own sword (1 Samuel 31:4).

men. Hebrew. "enosh. App-14,

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

Thy blood. Compare 2 Samuel 1:10.

thy head = thyself. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part). App-6.

children = sons.

the use of. The Ellipsis is wrongly supplied. The word "Lamentation" should be repeated from 2 Samuel 1:17; "The Bow" being the subject of the Lamentation (2 Samuel 1:22). the

bow. This is the name of the Lamentation, be-cause it is mentioned in 2 Samuel 1:22; and it is what the tribe of Saul and Jonathan (Benjamin) was noted for (compare 1 Chronicles 8:40; 1 Chronicles 12:2. 2 Chronicles 14:8; 2 Chronicles 17:17). For a similar reason the scripture (Ex. 3) about "The Bush" is so called in Mark 12:26. Luke 20:37.

behold. Figure of speech . Asterismos. App-6.

written, &c. In the Book of Jasher (or The Upright One) = " Thy hart, Israel, lies slain", &c.

beauty = gazelle. Symbolic of beauty and grace.

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.

swifter . . . stronger. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6.

How, &c. Render: "How [is it that] mighty ones have fallen, and weapons of war have perished".