2 Samuel 1

1 After [following, subsequent to] the death [separation of body and soul, end of life] of Saul [Shaul, the first king of Israel], David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Judah] returned [to turn back, come again] from the slaughter [smiting, defeat] of the Amalekites [descendants of Esau, enemies of Israel] and stayed [to dwell, remain] in Ziklag [a town in southern Judah] two [a pair, dual] days [periods of 24 hours, time]. word study 2 On the third [following, successive] day a man [individual, person] with torn [rent, ripped] clothes and dust [earth, soil] on his head arrived from Saul’s [Shaul’s, the king’s] camp [army, military encampment]. When he came to David [the king, leader], he fell [prostrated himself, bowed down] to the ground [earth, land] to pay him homage [show respect, do obeisance]. word study 3 “Where [in what location, from what place] have you come from?” David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Judah] asked. “I have escaped [slipped away to safety, been delivered] from the Israelite [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] camp [army, group of people],” he replied. word study 4 “What [how, in what manner] was the outcome [result, consequence]?” David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Judah] asked [inquired, sought to know]. “Please [I pray, I request] tell me [declare, inform me].” “The troops [people, army] fled [ran away, escaped] from the battle [war, conflict],” he replied [answered, responded]. “Many [a great number, numerous] of them fell [were defeated, died] and died [perished, came to an end]. And Saul [Shaul, the first king of Israel] and his son [offspring, descendant] Jonathan [Jehonathan, a gift from God] are also [too, likewise] dead [deceased, lifeless].” word study 5 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Judah] asked the young man [youth, a young person from infancy to adolescence] who had brought him the report, “How [in what manner, by what means] do you know [to ascertain by seeing, to learn] that Saul [Shaul, meaning desired] and his son [descendant, offspring] Jonathan [Jehonathan, meaning Jehovah has given] are dead [to die, to cease living]?” word study 6 “I happened [by chance, as I came upon] to be on Mount Gilboa [a mountain in Palestine, a place of significant battle],” he replied, “and there was Saul [Shaul, the king of Israel, desired], leaning [supporting himself, trusting] on his spear [a weapon for thrusting], with the chariots [vehicles, teams of horses] and the cavalry [horsemen, those who ride horses] closing in [pursuing closely, cleaving to] on him [in pursuit, to overtake]. word study 7 When he turned around [looking back, to face] and saw me [gazed at, looked after], he called out [to summon, invoke] and I answered, ‘Here I am [behold, I’m present, at your service]!’ word study 8 ‘Who are you?’ he asked [said to me, spoke]. So I told [answered, replied to] him, ‘I am [I exist as, I am identified as] an Amalekite [a descendant of Amalek, from the tribe of Amalek].’ word study 9 Then he begged me [with urgency and desperation], ‘Stand [come to my side, please] over me and kill me [put an end to my life], for agony [intense emotional pain, anguish] has seized me [taken hold of me, grasped me], but my life [my soul, my being] still lingers [remains, continues].’ word study 10 So I stood [firmly, in a strong sense] over him and killed him, because I knew [was certain, had assurance] that after he had fallen [been defeated, come to an end] he could not survive [live on, recover]. And I took [got, obtained] the crown that was on his head [as a sign of his authority] and the band [armlet, bracelet] that was on his arm [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power], and I have brought [carried, transported] them here [to this place, at this time] to my lord [master, ruler].” word study 11 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Judah] took hold of his own clothes [garments, robes] and tore [rent, ripped] them, and all [everything, every single one] the men [individuals, people] who were with [near, accompanying] him did the same [likewise, in the same manner]. word study 12 They mourned [with intense sorrow, wept bitterly] and wept [shed tears, lamented] and fasted [abstained from food, humbled themselves] until evening [sunset, the end of the day] for Saul [the king, Shaul] and his son Jonathan [Jehonathan, a gift from God], and for the people [nation, Amaw] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] and the house [dwelling place] of Israel [the chosen nation, descendants of Jacob], because they had fallen [been defeated, come to an end] by the sword [a cutting instrument, weapon of war]. word study 13 And David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Judah] inquired of the young man [youth, a boy or a girl from infancy to adolescence] who had brought him the report, “Where [in what location, from what place] are you from?” “I am the son [a male descendant, a grandson or a nation] of a foreigner [a sojourner, a temporary resident],” he answered. “I am an Amalekite [a member of the tribe descended from Amalek, a grandson of Esau].” word study 14 So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid [lacking reverence or fear] to lift your hand [to send or stretch forth your power] to destroy [to ruin or corrupt] the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] anointed [Messiah, the one set apart]?” word study 15 Then David [the king of Judah, a man after God’s heart] summoned [called out to] one of the young men [a youth, a servant] and said, “Go [approach, draw near], execute him [fall upon him, put to death]!” So the young man [a youth, a servant] struck him down [smiteth him], and he died [met his end, perished]. word study 16 For David [the king of Judah, a man after God’s heart] had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood [the very life that flows through your veins] be on your own head [the seat of responsibility, the source of your actions] because your own mouth [the instrument of testimony, the voice of your conscience] has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed [slain, put to death] the LORD’s [Yehovah, the one true God] anointed [Messiah, the chosen one, set apart for God’s purpose].’” word study 17 Then David [the youngest son of Jesse, a king of Judah] took up [composed, sang] this lament [dirge, song of grief] for Saul [Shaul, the desired one] and his son [descendant, the gift of God] Jonathan [Jehonathan, Jehovah has given], word study 18 and he ordered [commanded, instructed] that the sons [descendants, people] of Judah [the tribe of Judah] be taught [instructed, guided] the Song [hymn, poem] of the Bow [weapon]. It is written [recorded, inscribed] in the Book [scroll, document] of Jashar [the just, upright]: word study 19 “Your glory [beauty, splendor], O Israel [Jacob’s descendants], lies slain [killed, profaned] on your heights [high places, mountains]. How [in what way] the mighty [strong, valiant] have fallen [been defeated, overthrown]! word study 20 Tell it not [do not announce] in Gath [a major city of the Philistines]; proclaim it not [publish it not, do not declare openly] in the streets [outside, in the public areas] of Ashkelon [a key Philistine city], lest [beware that, be cautious] the daughters [female children, women] of the Philistines [inhabitants of Philistia] rejoice [be glad, celebrate], and the daughters [women, female descendants] of the uncircumcised [those without a covenant sign, heathen] exult [triumph, jump for joy]. word study 21 O mountains [hills, elevated lands] of Gilboa, may you have no dew [moisture, gentle rain] or rain [water from the sky], no fields [plains, cultivated lands] yielding offerings [contributions, sacrifices] of grain. For there [in that place, at that time] the shield [protection, defense] of the mighty [strong, valiant] was defiled [abhorred, rejected], the shield [protection, defense] of Saul, no longer anointed [set apart, consecrated] with oil [olive oil]. word study 22 From the blood [life-giving fluid] of the slain [killed, defeated], from the fat [richest part, abundance] of the mighty [strong, courageous warriors], the bow [weapon of strength] of Jonathan [Jehonathan, God-given] did not retreat [turn back, flee], and the sword [cutting instrument, tool of battle] of Saul [Shaul, desired] did not return [come back, turn back] empty [without purpose, unused, vainly]. word study 23 Saul and Jonathan [lovely and pleasant, beloved], beloved and delightful in life, were not [separated or divided] divided in death. They were [faster, swifter] swifter than eagles, they were stronger [mightier] than lions. word study 24 O daughters [female descendants] of Israel, weep [mourn, cry out in grief] for Saul, who clothed [dressed, adorned] you in scarlet [deep red, crimson] and luxury [delights, fine things], who decked [adorned, put on] your garments [clothing, apparel] with ornaments [jewelry, decorations] of gold [precious metal, treasure]. word study 25 How [in what manner, to what extent] the mighty [strong, valiant warriors] have fallen [been defeated, slain] in the thick [midst, center] of battle [war, conflict]! Jonathan [Jehonathan, Jehovah has given] lies slain [has been killed, wounded] on your heights. word study 26 I grieve [am distressed, mourn deeply] for you, Jonathan [Jehonathan, Jehovah has given], my brother [close relative, friend]. You were delightful [pleasant, wonderful] to me; your love [affection, devotion] to me was extraordinary [wonderful], surpassing [exceeding, passing] the love of women [the love of a wife, romantic love]. word study 27 How [in what manner, to what extent] the mighty [strong, valiant, warrior-like] have fallen [been defeated, come to an end] and the weapons [articles, utensils] of war [battle, conflict] have perished [been destroyed, lost]!” word study