Verse 1
the slaughter. Compare 1 Samuel 30:17
Ziklag. Compare 1 Samuel 27:6.
Verse 2
the third day. See note on 1 Samuel 30:12. behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.
Verse 4
he answered. He thought he brought news which would be welcomed.
Verse 6
behold . . . lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
Verse 8
Amalekite. Thus Saul was dishonoured by one whom his disobedience spared. Compare 1 Samuel 15:3 and Exodus 17:16.
Verse 9
He said. His whole story was a fabrication. See the facts in 1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Samuel 31:5.
life = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
Verse 10
fallen: i.e. upon his own sword (1 Samuel 31:4).
Verse 11
men. Hebrew. "enosh. App-14,
Verse 12
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
Verse 16
Thy blood. Compare 2 Samuel 1:10.
thy head = thyself. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Part). App-6.
Verse 18
children = sons.
the use of. The Ellipsis is wrongly supplied. The word "Lamentation" should be repeated from 2 Samuel 1:17; "The Bow" being the subject of the Lamentation (2 Samuel 1:22). the
bow. This is the name of the Lamentation, be-cause it is mentioned in 2 Samuel 1:22; and it is what the tribe of Saul and Jonathan (Benjamin) was noted for (compare 1 Chronicles 8:40; 1 Chronicles 12:2. 2 Chronicles 14:8; 2 Chronicles 17:17). For a similar reason the scripture (Ex. 3) about "The Bush" is so called in Mark 12:26. Luke 20:37.
behold. Figure of speech . Asterismos. App-6.
written, &c. In the Book of Jasher (or The Upright One) = " Thy hart, Israel, lies slain", &c.
Verse 19
beauty = gazelle. Symbolic of beauty and grace.
Verse 21
The shield of Saul. Omit the italics that follow, and supply instead "the weapon of one anointed with oil", the Hebrew k e li (or keli?) "weapons" being read instead of b e ll in the first edition of the Hebrew Bible, 1488, and the Syriac and Arabic Versions and Chaldee paraphrase.
Verse 23
swifter . . . stronger. Figure of speech Hyperbole. App-6.
Verse 27
How, &c. Render: "How [is it that] mighty ones have fallen, and weapons of war have perished".