2 Samuel 1

2 Samuel · Chapter 1

2 Samuel 1:23

1Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;2It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.3And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.4And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.5And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?6And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.7And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.8And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.9He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.10So 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.11Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:12And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.13And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.14And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?15And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.16And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD’s anointed.17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:18(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)19The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!20Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.21Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.24Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.25How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.26I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.27How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha-'ULH7586G
Saul

שָׁאוּל (sha.ul) A king of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.2; son of: Kish (H7027); married to Ahinoam (H0293) and Rizpah (H7532); father of: Jonathan (H3083H), Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764), Michal (H4324), Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764), Mephibosheth (H4648H) § Saul or Shaul = "desired" 1) a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the 1st king of Israel 2) an early king of Edom and a successor of Samlah 3) a son of Simeon 4) a Levite, son of Uzziah

and Jonathanוִיהוֹנָתָ֗ןvi-ho-na-TANH3083H
Jonathan

יְהוֹנָתָן (ye.ho.na.tan) A man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.13.2; son of: Saul (H7586G) and Ahinoam (H0293); brother of: Abinadab (H0041H), Malchi-shua (H4444), Merab (H4764) and Michal (H4324); half-brother of: Ish-bosheth (H0378), Armoni (H0764) and Mephibosheth (H4648H); father of: Mephibosheth (H4648) Also named: yo.na.tan (יוֹנָתָן "Jonathan" H3129N) § Jonathan or Jehonathan = "Jehovah has given" 1) a son of king Saul and a friend of David 2) a son of the high priest Abiathar and the last descendant of Eli of whom we hear …

the lovableהַנֶּאֱהָבִ֤יםha-ne-'e-ha-VIMH0157G
to love: lover

אָהֵב (a.hav) : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H)

and the pleasantוְהַנְּעִימִם֙ve-ha-ne-'i-MIMH5273A
pleasant

נָעִים (na.im) 1) pleasant, delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable 1a) delightful 1b) lovely, beautiful (physical)

in lives theirבְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔םbe-chai-yei-HEMH2416E
life

חַיִּים (chay.yim) 1) life (abstract emphatic) 1a) life 1b) sustenance, maintenance

and in death theirוּבְמוֹתָ֖םu-ve-mo-TAMH4194
death

מוֹת (mot) death Aramaic of ma.vet (מָ֫וֶת "death" H4194)

notלֹ֣אlo'H3808
not

לֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)

they were separatedנִפְרָ֑דוּnif-RA-duH6504
to scatter

בְּדַר (be.dar) (Pael) to scatter Aramaic of pa.rad (פָּרַד "to separate" H6504)

more than eaglesמִנְּשָׁרִ֣יםmi-ne-sha-RIMH5404
eagle

נְשַׁר (ne.shar) eagle, vulture, griffon-vulture Aramaic of ne.sher (נֶשֶׁר "eagle" H5404)

they were swiftקַ֔לּוּKA-luH7043
to lighten

קָלַל (qa.lal) 1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water) 1a2) to be swift 1a3) to be trifling, be of little account 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift 1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant 1b3) to be lightly esteemed 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to make despicable 1c2) to curse 1d) (Pual) to be cursed 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to make light, lighten 1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour 1f) (Pilpel) 1f1) to shake 1f2) to whet 1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro

more than lionsמֵאֲרָי֖וֹתme-'a-ra-YOTH0738A
lion

אֲרִי (a.ri) 1) lion 1a) pictures or images of lions

they were strongגָּבֵֽרוּ׃ga-VE-ruH1396
to prevail

גָּבַר (ga.var) 1) to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, be great 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be strong, mighty 1a2) to prevail 1b) (Piel) to make strong, strengthen 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to confirm, give strength 1c2) to confirm (a covenant) 1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to show oneself mighty 1d2) to act proudly (toward God)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.