---
title: "Clarke"
description: "to be slain, 13-16. David"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-samuel/1"
---

*to be slain*, 13-16.
*David's funeral song for Saul and Jonathan*, 17-27.
NOTES ON CHAP. I

Verse [2 Samuel 1:2](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/2). ***A man came out of the camp*** — The whole account which this young man gives is a fabrication: in many of the particulars it is grossly *self-contradictory*. There is no *fact* in the case but the bringing of the *crown*, or *diadem*, and *bracelets* of Saul; which, as he appears to have been a plunderer of the slain, he found on the field of battle; and he brought them to David, and told the lie of having despatched Saul, merely to ingratiate himself with David.

Verse [2 Samuel 1:8](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/8). ***I*****am*****an Amalek****ite.*] Dr. Delaney remarks that an Amalekite took that crown from off the head of Saul, which he had forfeited by his disobedience in the case of Amalek.

Verse [2 Samuel 1:10](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/10). ***The crown - and the bracelet*** — The crown was probably no more than a royal *fillet* or *diadem*, both being the ensigns of royalty. It is sometimes customary in the *East* for a sovereign prince to give a *crown* and *bracelets*, when investing others with dominion or authority over certain provinces. Had Saul these in token of his being God's *vicegerent*, and that he held the kingdom from him alone?

Verse [2 Samuel 1:16](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/16). ***Thy blood*****be*****upon thy head*** — If he killed Saul, as he said he did, then he deserved death; at that time it was not known to the contrary, and this man was executed on his own confession.

Verse [2 Samuel 1:17](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/17). ***David lamented*** — See this lamentation, and the notes on it at the end of this chapter. [2 Samuel 1:21](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/21).

Verse [2 Samuel 1:18](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/18). **The use of*****the bow*** — *The use of* is not in the Hebrew; it is simply *the bow*, that is, a song thus entitled. See the observations at the end. [2 Samuel 1:21](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/21).

Verse [2 Samuel 1:21](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/21). **As though he had*****not*****been**] In stead of בלי *beli*, NOT, I read כלי *keley*, INSTRUMENTS.
***Anointed with oil.*** — See the observations at the end.
[2 Samuel 1:18](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/18), c.: *He bade them teach the children of Judah* the use of *the bow*, *kasheth*.
The word *kasheth* is to be understood of the title of the song which immediately follows, and not of the use of the bow, as our translation intimates.
Many of David's Psalms have titles prefixed to them some are termed *Shosannim*, some *Maschil, Nehiloth, Neginoth*, c., and this one here, *Kadesh* or *The Bow*, because it was occasioned by the Philistine archers. [1 Samuel 31:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/31/3): "And the archers hit him."
But especially respecting the *bow* of Jonathan, "which returned not back from the blood of the slain," as the song itself expresses. And David could not but remember the *bow* of Jonathan, out of which "the arrow was shot beyond the lad," [1 Samuel 20:36](../../../kjv/1-samuel/20/36). It was the time when that covenant was made, and that affection expressed between them "which was greater than the love of women."
On these accounts the song was entitled *Kasheth*, or *The song of* *the Bow*, and David commanded the chief musicians, Ethan, Heman, and Jeduthun, to teach the children of Judah to sing it.
"It is written in the book of Jasher." *Sept*., επι βιβλιου του ευθους, "in the book of the upright."
ספרא דאוריתא siphra deoraitha, "The book of the Law." - *Jonathan*.
The *Arabic* says, "Behold it is written in the book of Ashee this is the book of Samuel;" the interpretation of which is, "book of songs or canticles."
This lamentation is justly admired as a picture of distress the most tender and the most striking; unequally divided by grief into longer and shorter breaks, as nature could pour them forth from a mind interrupted by the alternate recurrence of the most lively images of *love* and *greatness*.
His reverence for Saul and his love for Jonathan have their strongest colourings; but their *greatness* and *bravery* come full upon him, and are expressed with peculiar energy.
Being himself a *warrior*, it is in that character he sees their greatest excellence; and though his imagination hurries from one point of recollection to another, yet we hear him - at first, at last, everywhere - lamenting, *How are the mighty fallen*!
It is almost impossible to read the noble original without finding every word *swollen* with a *sigh* or *broken* with a *sob*. A heart pregnant with distress, and striving to utter expressions descriptive of its feelings, which are repeatedly interrupted by an excess of grief, is most sensibly painted throughout the whole. Even an *English* reader may be convinced of this, from the following specimen in European characters: -
Dr. *Kennicott*, from whom I have taken several of the preceding remarks, gives a fine Latin version of this song, which I here subjoin: -
In a MS. written about the year 1200, numbered 30 in *Kennicott's* *Bible*, כלי keley is found; and also in the *first edition of the* *whole Hebrew Bible*, printed *Soncini* 1488. Neither the *Syriac* nor *Arabic* versions, nor the *Chaldee* paraphrase, acknowledge the negative particle בלי *beli*, which they would have done had it been in the copies from which they translated. It was easy to make the mistake, as there is such a similarity between ב *beth* and כ *caph*; the line therefore should be read thus: The shield of Saul, *weapons* anointed with oil.
In verse [2 Samuel 1:22](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/22) נשוג nashog, to *obtain, attain*, seems to have been written for נסוג *nasog*, to *recede, return*. The former destroys the sense, the latter, which our translation has followed, and which is supported by the authority of 30 MSS., makes it not only intelligible but beautiful.
In verses [2 Samuel 1:19](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/19), [2 Samuel 1:22](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/22), and [2 Samuel 1:25](../../../kjv/2-samuel/1/25), חלל and חללים *chalal* and *chalalim* occur, which we translate the SLAIN, but which Dr. *Kennicott*, I think from good authority, renders *soldier* and *soldiers*; and thus the version is made more consistent and beautiful.
חלל chalal signifies to *bore* or *pierce through*; and this epithet might be well given to a soldier, q.d., the PIERCER, because his business is to *transfix* or *pierce* his enemies with sword, spear, and arrows.
If it be translated *soldiers* in the several places of the Old Testament, where we translate it SLAIN or WOUNDED, the sense will be much mended; see [Judges 20:31](../../../kjv/judges/20/31), [Judges 20:39](../../../kjv/judges/20/39); [Psalms 89:11](../../../kjv/psalms/89/11); [Proverbs 7:26](../../../kjv/proverbs/7/26); [Jeremiah 51:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/4), [Jeremiah 51:47](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/47), [Jeremiah 51:49](../../../kjv/jeremiah/51/49); [Ezekiel 11:6-7](../../../kjv/ezekiel/11/6-7); [Ezekiel 21:14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/14). In several others it retains its radical signification of *piercing, wounding*, c.
AFTER these general observations I leave the particular beauties of this inimitable song to be sought out by the intelligent reader. Much has been written upon this, which cannot, consistently with the plan of these notes, be admitted here. See *Delaney, Kennicott, Lowth*, &c. and, above all, let the reader examine the *Hebrew* text.

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