2 Samuel 1:17-27
Expanded Bible
David’s Song About Saul and Jonathan
17 David ·sang [chanted; intoned; or composed] a ·funeral song [lament] ·about [over] Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this song. It is called “The Bow,” and it is written in the Book of Jashar [C an ancient record of heroic deeds, now lost; Josh. 10:13]:
19 “Israel, your ·leaders [glorious/beautiful/proud ones; or gazelle; C a metaphor for a leader] have been killed on ·the hills [your heights].
How the mighty have ·fallen in battle [L fallen]!
20 Don’t ·tell [announce; speak of] it in Gath.
Don’t ·announce [proclaim; broadcast] it in the streets of Ashkelon.
If you do, the Philistine ·women [L daughters] will ·be happy [rejoice].
The daughters of the ·Philistines [pagans; L uncircumcised] will ·rejoice [gloat; exult].
21 “May there be no dew or rain on the mountains of Gilboa,
and may their fields produce no [L offerings of] grain,
because there the mighty warrior’s shield was ·dishonored [defiled; despised].
Saul’s shield will no longer be ·rubbed [anointed] with oil.
22 Jonathan’s bow did not ·fail [turn back]
·to kill many soldiers [L from shedding the blood of the slain].
Saul’s sword did not ·fail [return empty]
·to wound many strong men [L from the fat/bodies of the mighty].
23 “We loved Saul and Jonathan
and ·enjoyed [admired] them ·while they lived [in life].
They ·are together [were not parted] even in death.
They were ·faster [swifter] than eagles.
They were stronger than lions.
24 “You daughters of Israel, ·cry for [weep over] Saul.
Saul clothed you with ·red dresses [luxurious scarlet/crimson]
and put gold ·decorations [ornaments/jewelry] on them.
25 “How the mighty have fallen in battle!
Jonathan ·is dead [lies slain] on Gilboa’s ·hills [heights].
26 I ·cry [grieve; am desolate/distressed] for you, my brother Jonathan.
·I enjoyed your friendship so much [You were greatly loved by me].
Your love to me was wonderful,
·better than [surpassing; deeper than] the love of women.
27 “How the mighty have fallen!
·The weapons of war are gone [Stripped of their weapons of war].”
2 Samuel 1:17-27
New American Standard Bible
David’s Song of Mourning for Saul and Jonathan
17 Then David (A)sang this song of mourning over Saul and his son Jonathan, 18 and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the mourning song of the bow; behold, it is written in (B)the Book of Jashar.
19 “[a]Your beauty, Israel, is [b]slaughtered on your high places!
(C)How the mighty have fallen!
20 (D)Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon,
Or (E)the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
The daughters of (F)the uncircumcised will celebrate.
21 (G)Mountains of Gilboa,
(H)May there be no dew nor rain on you, or fields of offerings!
For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,
The shield of Saul, not (I)anointed with oil.
22 (J)From the blood of those [c]slaughtered, from the fat of the mighty,
(K)The bow of Jonathan did not turn back,
And the sword of Saul did not return [d]unstained.
23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in [e]life,
And in their deaths they were not separated;
(L)They were swifter than eagles,
(M)They were mightier than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
Who clothed you in scarlet, with jewelry,
Who put gold jewelry on your apparel.
25 (N)How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan is [f]slaughtered on your high places.
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;
You have been [g]a close friend to me.
(O)Your love for me was more wonderful
Than the love of women.
27 (P)How the mighty have fallen,
And (Q)the weapons of war have perished!”
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 1:19 Lit The
- 2 Samuel 1:19 Lit pierced
- 2 Samuel 1:22 Lit pierced
- 2 Samuel 1:22 Or without success
- 2 Samuel 1:23 Lit their lives
- 2 Samuel 1:25 Lit pierced
- 2 Samuel 1:26 Lit very friendly to
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
