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2 Samuel 1:19

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 1:19 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!
2 Samuel 1:19 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
16And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah`s anointed.
17And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son
18(and he bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):
19Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!
20Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not 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.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places, etc.] The high mountains of Gilboa, where Saul their king, and Jonathan his son, a prince of the blood, and natural heir to the crown, and multitudes of young men, the flower of the nation, were wounded and slain. Here begins the lamentation, or the elegiac song: how are the mighty fallen! mighty men of war, strong and valiant, as Saul and his sons were, and the soldiers in his army.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places--literally, "the gazelle" or "antelope of Israel." In Eastern countries, that animal is the chosen type of beauty and symmetrical elegance of form. how are the mighty fallen!--This forms the chorus.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The beauty ... - i. e. Saul and Jonathan who were the chief ornament and pride of Israel, and slain upon “high places” 2 Samuel 1:25, namely, on Mount Gilboa. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Beauty - Their flower and glory. Saul and Jonathan, and their army. High places - Heb. upon thy high places; that is, those which belong to thee, O land of Israel. How - How strangely! How suddenly! How universally! 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 1:20”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:19 Your pride and joy: David’s description focused more on Saul’s royal position than on his personal characteristics.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“beauty: Sa2 1:23; Deu 4:7, Deu 4:8; Sa1 31:8; Isa 4:2, Isa 53:2; Lam 2:1; Zac 11:7, Zac 11:10 how are: Sa2 1:25, Sa2 1:27; Lam 5:16 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 1:20”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The ode is arranged in three strophes, which gradually diminish in force and sweep (viz., Sa2 1:19-24, Sa2 1:25-26, Sa2 1:27), and in which the vehemence of the sorrow so gradually modified, and finally dies away. Each strophe opens with the exclamation, "How are the mighty fallen!" The first contains all that had to be said in praise of the fallen heroes; the deepest mourning for their death; and praise of their bravery, of their inseparable love, and of the virtues of Saul as king. The second commemorates the friendship between David and Jonathan. The third simply utters the last sigh, with which the elegy becomes silent. The first strophe runs thus: 19 The ornament, O Israel, is slain…”
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Related study paths

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