David being at Ziklag receiveth tidings by an Amalekite of Saul and Jonathan’s death: the messenger pretendeth himself to have killed Saul 2 Sam. 1:1–12. David causeth him to be put to death, 2 Sam. 1:13–16; lamenteth Saul and Jonathan with a song, 2 Sam. 1:17–27.

Which though burnt, yet was not so consumed by the fire, that David and his men could not lodge in it.

On the third day; from David’s return to Ziklag, as the foregoing words manifest. With his clothes rent, and earth upon his head; pretending sorrow for the loss of God’s people, in compliance with David’s humour.

He mentions only these two, as those who seemed most to obstruct David’s coming to the crown.

For the knowledge of this did most concern both David and the whole commonwealth of Israel.

Stand upon me, i.e. lean upon me by thy weight and force, that the spear may come through me; or, stay by me, i.e. stop thy flight, and tarry so long with me till thou hast killed me. Anguish is come upon me, i.e. I am in great pain of body, and anguish of mind.

I stood upon him, and slew him: it is most probable this was a lie, devised to gain David’s favour, as he supposed. For, 1. Saul was not killed by a spear, as he pretends, but by his sword, 1 Sam. 31:4. 2.

Whence art thou? David heard and knew before what he was, but he asked it again judicially, in order to his trial and punishment.

Why didst not thou refuse to kill him, as his armour-bearer had done? For notwithstanding his great danger, something might have fallen out through God’s all-disposing providence, whereby his life might have been preserved.

Thy blood be upon thy head; the guilt of thy bloodshed or death lies upon thyself, not upon me, for thy free and voluntary confession is sufficient proof of thy guilt in killing the king.

Also: having mentioned David’s lamentation in general, before he comes to the particular description of it, he interposeth this verse by way of parenthesis; to signify, that David did not so give up himself to lamentation as to neglect his great business, the care of the commonwealth, which now lay…

The beauty of Israel; their flower and glory, Saul and Jonathan, and their army, consisting of young and valiant men. Upon thy high places, i.e. those which belong to thee, O land of Israel. How are the mighty fallen! how strangely! how suddenly! how dreadfully and universally!

Tell it not in Gath: this is not a precept, but a poetical wish; whereby he doth not so much desire that this might not be done, which he knew to be vain and impossible; as express his great sorrow because it was and would be done, to the great dishonour of God and of his people.

Let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you: this is no proper imprecation; which he had no reason to inflict upon those harmless mountains; but only a passionate representation of the horror which he conceived at this public loss; which was such, as if he thought every person or thing…

Turned not back, to wit, without effect: compare Isa. 45:23, Isa. 55:2. Their arrows shot from their bows, and their swords, did seldom miss, and commonly pierced fat, and flesh, and blood, and reached even to the heart and bowels. Empty, i.e.

Pleasant; amiable and obliging in their carriage and conversation, both towards one another, and towards their people; for as for Saul’s fierce behaviour towards Jonathan, 1 Sam. 20:30, 1 Sam.

Ye daughters of Israel: these he mentions, partly because the women then used to make songs, both of triumph and of lamentation, as occasion required; and partly because they usually are most delighted with the ornaments of the body here following.

Which were in thy country, and (had not thy father disinherited thee by his sins) in thy dominions.

For thee, i.e. for the loss of thee. For besides the loss of a true friend, and all the comfort of friendship, which is inestimable, he lost him who both could, and undoubtedly would, have given him a speedy, and quiet, and sure possession of the kingdom; whereas now he met with long and…

Either, 1. Metaphorically so called, to wit, Saul and Jonathan, and the brave commanders and soldiers of Israel; who might have been called the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. Or rather, 2.