2 Samuel 1:20 kjv
Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
2 Samuel 1:20 nkjv
Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon? Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
2 Samuel 1:20 niv
"Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice.
2 Samuel 1:20 esv
Tell 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 exult.
2 Samuel 1:20 nlt
Don't announce the news in Gath,
don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice
and the pagans will laugh in triumph.
2 Samuel 1 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 14:3 | "Is there no woman among the daughters of thy brethren... that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" | Distaste for Philistine alliance. |
| 1 Sam 17:26 | "What shall be done to the man... who defies the armies of the living God?" | Goliath, an uncircumcised Philistine. |
| 1 Sam 31:9-10 | They cut off his head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines... to publish it in the house of their idols and among the people. | The very act David wishes to prevent occurs. |
| Psa 35:19 | Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause. | Enemies rejoicing over one's downfall. |
| Psa 38:16 | For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me... | Praying against enemy triumph. |
| Psa 89:42 | Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. | Lament over enemies' triumph. |
| Prov 24:17 | Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth. | Wisdom warning against gloating. |
| Isa 14:28-32 | In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden... Howl, O gate; cry, O city; for all Philistia is dissolved... | Prophecy against Philistia. |
| Jer 47:5 | Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off... | Judgment proclaimed on Philistine cities. |
| Lam 2:15 | All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying... | Public mockery of fallen Israel. |
| Mic 7:8 | Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise... | Prophetic declaration of hope despite fall. |
| Joel 2:17 | "Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?" | Plea for God to save His people from enemy mockery. |
| Eze 36:20-23 | And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. | Israel's suffering bringing reproach on God's name. |
| Rom 2:28-29 | For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh... but in the spirit. | Spiritual meaning of "circumcision." |
| Col 2:11 | In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. | Christ-centered spiritual circumcision. |
| Psa 42:3 | My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? | Questioning God's presence during hardship. |
| Isa 52:5 | Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. | God's name profaned by enemy oppression. |
| Job 30:1 | But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. | Experiencing ridicule and derision. |
| Jer 9:17-18 | Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come: And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us... | Traditional women's role in public lament. |
| Exod 15:20-21 | And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances... And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously... | Women leading in songs of triumph and celebration. |
2 Samuel 1 verses
2 Samuel 1 20 Meaning
This verse is an impassioned plea by David, part of his lament (The Song of the Bow) upon hearing of King Saul and Prince Jonathan's death in battle against the Philistines. It expresses a deep desire for the tragic news to remain hidden from Israel's enemies, particularly the Philistines in their prominent cities of Gath and Ashkelon. The concern is that public knowledge of Israel's defeat and the fall of its leaders would incite joyous celebration and triumphant mockery among the uncircumcised Philistines, thereby bringing immense shame and dishonor upon Israel and, by extension, upon the name of their God. It highlights the profound national sorrow and the fear of foreign jubilation over their calamity.
2 Samuel 1 20 Context
This verse opens David's profound lament, often called "The Song of the Bow" (2 Sam 1:19-27), for King Saul and his son Jonathan, who tragically died in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. David receives the devastating news from an Amalekite who falsely claims to have killed Saul, expecting a reward. Instead, David, despite Saul's animosity towards him, demonstrates immense sorrow and nationalistic grief, executing the Amalekite for laying hands on the Lord's anointed. This verse encapsulates David's immediate concern that Israel's military catastrophe and the death of its king would become a spectacle of scorn for their long-standing enemies. The historical context is critical: Israel was still establishing its kingship, and a major defeat and the fall of the anointed king threatened national morale and security, serving as a propaganda victory for the uncircumcised Philistines. The lament itself transcends personal sorrow, reflecting David's heart for Israel and the glory of God.
2 Samuel 1 20 Word analysis
- Tell it not (אַל תַּגִּידוּ): An urgent, strong prohibition.
אַל(al) means "do not," andתַּגִּידוּ(taggidu) fromנגד(nagad), in the Hiphil stem, means "to declare" or "report." It conveys a desperate plea for secrecy regarding a profoundly humiliating event. - in Gath (בְּגַת): Gath was one of the five primary Philistine city-states (alongside Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron). It was notably the home city of Goliath (1 Sam 17:4), symbolizing a key center of Philistine power and antagonism towards Israel.
- publish it not (אַל תְּבַשְּׂרוּ): Another powerful prohibition.
תְּבַשְּׂרוּ(tevasseru) fromבשר(basar), in the Piel stem, often refers to "bringing good news" or "announcing joyful tidings." The use of this verb ironically here amplifies the depth of sorrow: what is devastating news for Israel would be 'good news' for their enemies, intensifying David's desire to withhold it. - in the streets of Ashkelon (בְּחוּצֹת אַשְׁקְלוֹן): Ashkelon was another significant Philistine city on the Mediterranean coast. Mentioning "streets" (
חוּצוֹת, chutzot) implies widespread, public proclamation and celebratory activities, emphasizing the degree of enemy triumph David wished to prevent. - lest (פֶּן): A conjunction indicating fear, a negative purpose, or prevention ("so that not," "in order that not"). It highlights the dire consequences David wishes to avert.
- the daughters of the Philistines (בְּנוֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּים): "Daughters" (
בְּנוֹת, benot) refers specifically to the women. In ancient cultures, women often led public celebrations of military victories with songs, dances, and instruments (e.g., Exod 15:20-21; Judg 11:34; 1 Sam 18:6). Their public rejoicing would be the most humiliating display of enemy triumph. - rejoice (תִּשְׂמַחְנָה): From
שׂמח(samach), meaning "to be joyful" or "glad." It describes the expected public exultation of the Philistine women. - lest (פֶּן): Reiterates the apprehension of undesired outcomes.
- the daughters of the uncircumcised (בְּנוֹת הָעֲרֵלִים): "The uncircumcised" (
הָעֲרֵלִים, ha-ʿarelim) was a common derogatory and distinguishing term used by Israelites for the Philistines and other non-Israelites who did not practice circumcision, which was a covenant sign given by God to Abraham (Gen 17:10). This term emphasizes not only the Philistines' foreignness but their spiritual and covenantal alienation from God and Israel, underscoring the deep religious divide and Israel's lament over shame before such adversaries. - triumph (תַּעֲלֹזְנָה): From
עלז(alaz), which signifies a stronger form of rejoicing, to "exult," "be jubilant," or "shout for joy." This parallels "rejoice" but suggests a more boisterous and outright celebration of victory.
Words-group analysis:
- "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon": This powerful parallelism underscores David's fervent desire for secrecy. The pairing of specific enemy cities symbolizes the broad geographical scope where this humiliation could spread, emphasizing public disgrace rather than private sorrow. It reflects the desperate plea to contain Israel's pain internally, away from mocking ears.
- "lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph": This repetition highlights the specific visual and audible humiliation David wishes to avoid: the jubilant public celebration led by women from enemy territories. The double clause intensifies the plea, painting a vivid picture of the Philistines' anticipated scorn and mockery over Israel's king and champion. The term "uncircumcised" also underscores the spiritual dimension of the conflict, as Israel's God's name might be reviled.
2 Samuel 1 20 Bonus section
This verse is part of a magnificent poem often recognized for its poetic devices, including parallelism, chiastic structure, and evocative imagery. While David commands that the news not be told, it is ironic that the preceding context already detailed how the Philistines publically displayed Saul's body and armor, fulfilling precisely the type of mocking David laments. This underscores the tragic reality and the profound shame Israel endured. The focus on "daughters" reflects a cultural practice where women were key participants in celebrating military triumphs, thereby magnifying the potential for humiliation and public disgrace. The enduring shame expressed in this lament reflects the understanding that God's honor was intrinsically linked to the well-being and success of His covenant people. When Israel stumbled, it cast a shadow on the name of Yahweh among the nations, which David devoutly wished to prevent.
2 Samuel 1 20 Commentary
David's anguished cry in 2 Samuel 1:20 transcends mere personal grief for Saul and Jonathan. It reflects a profound national shame and a fervent desire to protect the dignity of Israel and the glory of God. The public humiliation of Israel, especially at the hands of their most persistent, pagan enemies, was an unbearable thought. David knew that such a defeat could be misconstrued as the weakness of Israel's God. The plea highlights the deep spiritual dimension of ancient warfare, where the fate of nations was often tied to the perceived power of their gods. David's lament thus seeks to confine Israel's immense sorrow within its borders, preventing it from becoming an occasion for foreign nations to gloat over Yahweh's people and, by extension, God Himself. It speaks to the importance of the witness of God's people to the world, and how their actions or failures can either honor or dishonor His name.
- Practical application: Just as David sought to protect the witness of Israel before the "uncircumcised," believers today are called to live in a manner that does not bring reproach to the name of Christ before a watching world (Rom 2:24; 1 Pet 2:12). Our actions, especially in times of difficulty or division within the body of Christ, should avoid becoming a cause for those outside the faith to mock or revile God.