# 2 Samuel 01 đ: David Mourns Saul and Jonathan
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đ Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#đ§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#âď¸ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#đ Key Principles / đ Life Application]]
> [[#đŹ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#âď¸ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đ Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#đ Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đ Internal Notes]]
## đ Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### David Learns of the Deaths of Saul and Jonathan
[[#Verse 01.]] After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he approached David, the man threw himself to the ground.
[[#Verse 03.]] David asked him, âWhere are you coming from?â He replied, âI have escaped from the camp of Israel.âÂ
[[#Verse 04.]] David inquired, âHow were things going? Tell me!â He replied, âThe people fled from the battle and many of them fell dead. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!âÂ
[[#Verse 05.]] David said to the young man who was telling him this, âHow do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?â
[[#Verse 06.]] The young man said, âI just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him.Â
[[#Verse 07.]]Â When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, âHere I am!â
[[#Verse 08.]] He asked me, âWho are you?â I told him, âIâm an Amalekite.â
[[#Verse 09.]] He said to me, âStand over me and finish me off! Iâm very dizzy, even though Iâm still alive.âÂ
[[#Verse 10.]] So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldnât live in such a condition. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.â
[[#Verse 11.]] David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lordâs army, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword.
[[#Verse 13.]] David said to the young man who told this to him, âWhere are you from?â He replied, âI am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner.âÂ
[[#Verse 14.]] David replied to him, âHow is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the Lordâs anointed?âÂ
[[#Verse 15.]] Then David called one of the soldiers and said, âCome here and strike him down!â So he struck him down, and he died.Â
[[#Verse 16.]] David said to him, âYour blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying âI have put the Lordâs anointed to death.ââ
### Davidâs Tribute to Saul and Jonathan
[[#Verse 17.]]Â Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan.Â
[[#Verse 18.]] (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught âThe Bow.â Indeed, it is written down in the Scroll of the Upright One.)
[[#Verse 19.]] âThe beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
[[#Verse 20.]]Â Donât report it in Gath,
donât spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!
[[#Verse 21.]]Â O mountains of Gilboa,
may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings!
For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled;
the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.
[[#Verse 22.]]Â From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors,
the bow of Jonathan was not turned away.
The sword of Saul never returned empty.
[[#Verse 23.]] Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives,
and not even in their deaths were they separated.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
[[#Verse 24.]]Â O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewelry,
who put gold jewelry on your clothes.
[[#Verse 25.]]Â How the warriors have fallen
in the midst of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your high places!
[[#Verse 26.]]Â I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan.
You were very dear to me.
Your love was more special to me than the love of women.
[[#Verse 27.]]Â How the warriors have fallen!
The weapons of war are destroyed!
## đ Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
###### Verse 27.
## đ¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The Amalekite's story (1:6-10) differs from 1 Samuel 31:3-5, where Saul fell on his own sword. Many scholars think the Amalekite lied, hoping for a reward.
2. David had just returned from defeating the Amalekites who raided Ziklag (1:1; 1 Samuel 30).
3. Saul's downfall began when he failed to destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15), and now an Amalekite claims to have killed him.
4. The Amalekite brought Saul's crown and armband (1:10), royal symbols he likely hoped to present to the next king.
5. Torn clothes and dirt on the head were common signs of grief in the ancient Near East (1:2, 11).
6. David's lament is recorded in the Book of Jashar (1:18), a lost collection also cited in Joshua 10:13.
7. The lament seems to have been called "The Bow" (1:18), possibly recalling Jonathan's skill with the bow (1:22).
8. David did not want the news told in Gath or Ashkelon (1:20), two of the five main Philistine cities.
9. David called for no dew or rain on the mountains of Gilboa, where Saul and his sons died (1:21).
10. The refrain about the mighty falling appears three times in the lament (1:19, 25, 27).
## đ§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## âď¸ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true Anointed One who loved His enemies. David honored Saul as the Lord's anointed and mourned even the man who hunted him (1:14, 17). Jesus wept over Jerusalem and prayed for those who crucified Him (Luke 19:41; 23:34).
## đ Key Principles / đ Life Application
> [!note] đą Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đŹ Discussion Questions
1. David grieved for Saul, who had tried to kill him (1:11-12, 17). What does this teach about honoring people who have hurt us?
2. The Amalekite expected a reward for bringing Saul's crown (1:10). What does David's response teach about profiting from someone else's downfall?
3. David said Jonathan's love was extraordinary (1:26). What makes a friendship like theirs rare and valuable?
## âď¸ Key Verses to Remember
- đ verses 11-12: David and his men tear their clothes, weep, and fast for Saul and Jonathan.
- đ verse 14: David asks how the Amalekite was not afraid to strike the Lord's anointed.
- đ verses 19-27: David's lament for Saul and Jonathan, with its refrain about the fall of the mighty.
## đ Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đ [[1 Samuel 31#Verse 01.|1 Samuel 31:1-6]] - Saul and his sons die on Mount Gilboa.
- đ [[1 Samuel 24#Verse 06.|1 Samuel 24:6]] - David refuses to harm the Lord's anointed.
- đ [[1 Samuel 18#Verse 01.|1 Samuel 18:1-4]] - Jonathan's covenant friendship with David.
- đ [[Romans 12#Verse 15.|Romans 12:15]] - Weep with those who weep.
- đ [[Proverbs 24#Verse 17.|Proverbs 24:17]] - Do not rejoice when your enemy falls.
## đ Devotional Reflection
đ SOAP: [[2 Samuel 01 - SOAP|There is a Time to Mourn]]
## đ Internal Notes