2 Samuel 1:19 kjv
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
2 Samuel 1:19 nkjv
"The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
2 Samuel 1:19 niv
"A gazelle lies slain on your heights, Israel. How the mighty have fallen!
2 Samuel 1:19 esv
"Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!
2 Samuel 1:19 nlt
Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills!
Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!
2 Samuel 1 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lament & Mourning (General) | ||
| Ps 79:11 | Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; by the strength of your arm preserve those doomed to die. | Expresses the lament and desperate cry of a nation in distress. |
| Jer 9:1 | Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! | Prophetic lamentation over national calamity and loss of life. |
| Lam 2:1 | How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He has cast down from heaven to earth the glory of Israel. | Uses "glory of Israel" in a similar context of national downfall and divine judgment. |
| Amos 5:2 | The virgin Israel has fallen; she will rise no more. | Prophetic lament over Israel's spiritual and eventual political downfall. |
| Downfall of the Mighty/Great Leaders | ||
| Isa 14:12 | How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! | Illustrates the sudden, dramatic fall of a powerful entity. |
| Eze 32:21 | The mighty chiefs shall speak of him... Who is like you in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? You too shall be brought down with the trees of Eden. | References the fall of a mighty leader among the powerful nations. |
| Jer 14:17 | You shall say to them, ‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a mighty blow.’ | Depicts the lament for the 'shattered' state of the nation through loss. |
| Context of Saul & Jonathan's Death | ||
| 1 Sam 31:8 | On the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. | Direct historical context of Saul's and Jonathan's deaths on Gilboa. |
| 2 Sam 1:21 | “You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you... For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.” | David's subsequent cursing of Gilboa, emphasizing the shame of their death there. |
| 2 Sam 1:25 | “How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places.” | Repetition of the lament's refrain, specifically mentioning Jonathan. |
| 2 Sam 1:27 | “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” | Concluding repetition of the refrain, generalizing the loss of war instruments. |
| David's Compassion & Character | ||
| 2 Sam 3:33-34 | And the king lamented for Abner, saying, “Should Abner die as a fool dies? Your hands were not bound... and you fell before scoundrels.” | David's lament over Abner, showing his pattern of grieving even former adversaries. |
| 2 Sam 12:15-23 | So Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David... but the child died. Then David arose... changed his clothes... and went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. | David's deep grief over the death of his child, contrasting with later acceptance. |
| Prov 24:17 | Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles. | Reinforces the righteous attitude of not celebrating an enemy's misfortune, reflected in David. |
| Symbolism of "High Places" & National Shame/Blessing | ||
| Deut 32:13 | He made him ride on the high places of the earth, and he ate the produce of the field, and he made him suck honey out of the rock. | "High places" as symbolic of elevated status or prosperity granted by God. |
| Hab 3:19 | God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. | High places as a place of security, strength, or victory given by God. |
| Judg 5:18 | Zebulun is a people who exposed their lives to death; Naphtali too, on the heights of the field. | Heights of the field can represent places of battle or valiant fighting. |
| Jer 26:18 | "Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: 'Zion shall be plowed as a field... and the mountain of the house as a wooded height.'" | Illustrates the desolation of once prominent places, transforming them. |
| Ezek 6:3 | and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains... and to all your desolate heights...’ | Mountains/heights as significant sites, often associated with idolatry, but also where key events happen. |
| Hos 4:13 | They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains and burn offerings on the hills... | Reference to "high places" as sites of worship, often illicit. In 2 Sam 1:19, it's primarily a geographical location of defeat. |
2 Samuel 1 verses
2 Samuel 1 19 Meaning
2 Samuel 1:19 inaugurates David's poignant lament, known as "The Song of the Bow," following the devastating news of Saul's and Jonathan's deaths. The verse dramatically declares that Israel's very "glory" and strength have been cut down on its battlefields. It expresses profound shock and sorrow at the unexpected downfall of the nation's greatest warriors and leaders, likening their demise to the slaying of Israel's inherent beauty and might on its significant, elevated places.
2 Samuel 1 19 Context
The preceding verses of 2 Samuel chapter 1 recount the arrival of an Amalekite who informs David of Saul's and Jonathan's deaths on Mount Gilboa. This messenger mistakenly claims to have personally killed Saul at Saul's request, and brings Saul's crown and armband to David as proof. Far from rejoicing over the death of his adversary who relentlessly pursued him, David and his men tear their clothes, mourn, weep, and fast until evening. Verse 19 then marks the powerful opening statement of David's lament, immediately setting the tone for a song of national grief, not personal triumph. Historically, this lament highlights David's remarkable character, his respect for God's anointed, and his deep affection for Jonathan, rising above personal vengeance and political expediency. The fall of Saul and Jonathan represents a tragic turning point for Israel, ushering in David's era of kingship but under the shadow of this devastating national loss.
2 Samuel 1 19 Word analysis
Your glory, O Israel, (צְבִיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל - Tseviḵā Yisraʾel)
- צְבִיךָ (Tseviḵā): From Tsevi (צבי), meaning "beauty," "splendor," "ornament," "honor," "gazelle." Here, it personifies Israel's best, its pride, its dignity, specifically referring to Saul and Jonathan. They embodied the physical and military strength of the nation, much like a magnificent gazelle. Its death is not just a personal loss but a disfiguring wound to the entire nation.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisraʾel): "Israel" is the direct address, making it a national catastrophe, not just a personal one. The lament is for the entire community.
is slain (חָלָל - ḥalal)
- חָלָל (ḥalal): A participle form from the root ḥ-l-l (חלל), meaning "to pierce," "to profane," "to defile," or "to wound fatally." Here, it signifies a violent, shameful, and desecrating death. Their death is not glorious on the battlefield, but rather a profanation of what they represented, lying fallen on enemy terms. It implies a sense of defilement or a void created.
on your high places! (עַל־בָּמוֹתֶיךָ - ʿal-Bamôṯêḵā)
- בָּמוֹתֶיךָ (Bamôṯêḵā): From bamah (במה), "high place," "ridge," "height." This specifically refers to the topographical location of Mount Gilboa, where the battle occurred. It's ironic: their defeat and death happened in prominent, elevated places, which should have been advantageous or even sacred, but instead became the site of Israel's greatest humiliation. It is a public and inescapable place of defeat.
How the mighty (אֵיךְ נָפְלוּ גִבּוֹרִים - Eyk Naphəlû Gibôrîm)
- אֵיךְ (Eyk): An interrogative exclamation, "How?" expressing utter shock, sorrow, and bewilderment at the unthinkable. It sets the tone of the lament, emphasizing the tragic irony of such strong warriors falling.
- נָפְלוּ (Naphəlû): "Have fallen." The verb naphal (נפל) signifies falling, dropping, failing, or perishing. Here, it denotes sudden, decisive, and irreparable defeat. It underscores the complete reversal of their fortunes.
- גִבּוֹרִים (Gibôrîm): Plural of gibbor (גבור), "mighty one," "strong man," "warrior," "hero." This refers to both Saul and Jonathan, renowned for their strength, bravery, and military prowess.
have fallen! (repetition, same as above, emphasizing the complete collapse).
Words-group Analysis:
- "Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!": This opening line sets the scene of national mourning. It equates the death of its leaders with the death of Israel's national essence, portraying it as a severe wound. The Tsevi imagery (beauty, gazelle, splendor) amplifies the depth of loss, implying something precious and vibrant has been senselessly destroyed on their own elevated territory. It transforms a battle defeat into a national spiritual and identity crisis.
- "How the mighty have fallen!": This repeated refrain (appearing three times in this song: vv. 19, 25, 27) acts as a powerful, almost ritualistic, expression of deep grief and shock. It is a rhetorical question that carries immense emotional weight, reflecting utter disbelief and profound sorrow over the demise of such strong, capable, and revered figures. Its repetition amplifies the tragedy and ensures the message of significant loss is driven home.
2 Samuel 1 19 Bonus section
David's lament, initiated by this verse, employs the poetic device of a qinah (lamentation) meter, characterized by an irregular rhythm (often 3+2 beat pattern). This meter, when recited, creates a limping, halting feel, mirroring the anguish and sorrow it conveys. This poetic structure reinforces the somber and heavy tone from the very first line. Furthermore, David, a man deeply wronged by Saul, does not gloat but grieves profoundly. This reveals a crucial aspect of biblical leadership: a spirit of mourning over national tragedy, empathy, and reverence for God's chosen, regardless of personal conflict. It implicitly contrasts with the world's typical response to an enemy's downfall, setting David apart and signifying God's preference for compassion and lament over celebration in such circumstances.
2 Samuel 1 19 Commentary
2 Samuel 1:19 serves as the solemn opening statement of David's magnificent funeral dirge for Saul and Jonathan. It immediately confronts the harsh reality of their deaths, viewing it as a public dismemberment of Israel's honor and strength. The verse avoids assigning blame, focusing purely on the devastating impact of the loss. David's use of "glory, O Israel" (צְבִיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל) personalizes the national identity with its fallen heroes, illustrating how their strength and beauty were intertwined with the nation's own image. Their deaths on the "high places" (Mount Gilboa), normally strategic positions, underscore the profound nature of the defeat and humiliation. The repeated cry "How the mighty have fallen!" becomes a defining refrain, lamenting not just individuals, but the protective power, courage, and leadership that these warriors embodied for the nation. This verse highlights David's extraordinary capacity for lament, even for those who sought his life, showcasing a character truly "after God's own heart" and elevating their passing into a lament for the whole community. It reflects a biblical worldview where national strength is tied to the lives of its anointed and righteous, and their loss elicits genuine, heartfelt mourning.