2 Samuel 1:20

2 Samuel 1:20 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (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.

Context of 2 Samuel 1:20

18He said, “Teach this kesheth to the people of Judah.” (It is recorded in the Book of Jashar.) 19“Your glory, Israel, lies dead on your hills. See how the mighty have fallen! Don’t tell the news in Gath. Don’t announce the victory in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will be glad, and the daughters of godless men will celebrate. 21You mountains in Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you or on your slopes, because warriors’ shields were tarnished there. Saul’s shield was never rubbed with olive oil. 22From the blood of those killed and the fat of the warriors, Jonathan’s bow did not turn away, nor did Saul’s sword return unused.

2 Samuel 1:20 word by word

אַל־תַּגִּ֣ידוּ בְגַ֔ת אַֽל־תְּבַשְּׂר֖וּ בְּחוּצֹ֣ת אַשְׁקְל֑וֹן פֶּן־תִּשְׂמַ֙חְנָה֙ בְּנ֣וֹת פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים פֶּֽן־תַּעֲלֹ֖זְנָה בְּנ֥וֹת הָעֲרֵלִֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• not in Gathגַּתgath · GathH1661
• publishבָּשַׂרbâώar · to bear tidingsH1319
• not in the streetsחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
• of Askelonאַשְׁקְלוֹן'ashqelôn · AshkelonH831
• lest the daughtersבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
• of the uncircumcisedעָרֵל‛ârêl · uncircumcisedH6189
• triumphעָלַז‛âlaz · to exultH5937

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 1:20

• Deuteronomy 32:26I said that I would cut them in pieces and erase everyone’s memory of them.
• Judges 14:19When the Lord’s Spirit came over him, he went to Ashkelon and killed 30 men there. He took their clothes and gave them to the men who solved the riddle. He was angry, and he went to his father’s house.
• Judges 16:23Now, the Philistine rulers gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon and to celebrate. They said, “Our god handed Samson, our enemy, over to us.”
• 1 Samuel 31:9They cut off his head and stripped off his armor. Then they sent men throughout Philistine territory to tell the people this good news in their idols’ temples.
• Micah 1:10Don’t report it in Gath. Don’t cry there. Roll in the dust of Beth Leaphrah.
• Exodus 15:20Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand. All the women, dancing with tambourines, followed her.
• Judges 11:34When Jephthah went to his home in Mizpah, he saw his daughter coming out to meet him. She was dancing with tambourines in her hands. She was his only child. Jephthah had no other sons or daughters.
• 1 Samuel 18:6As they arrived, David was returning from a campaign against the Philistines. Women from all of Israel’s cities came to meet King Saul. They sang and danced, accompanied by tambourines, joyful music, and triangles.
• Ezekiel 16:27“ ‘So I used my power against you. I took away some of your land, and I handed you over to your greedy enemies, the Philistines, who were ashamed of what you had done.
• 1 Samuel 17:26David asked the men who were standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and gets rid of Israel’s disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should challenge the army of the living God?”
• 1 Samuel 31:4Saul told his armorbearer, “Draw your sword! Stab me, or these godless men will come, stab me, and make fun of me.” But his armorbearer refused because he was terrified. So Saul took the sword and fell on it.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 1:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Gath, the royal city of Achish 1 Samuel 21:10; 1 Samuel 27:2. Askelon, the chief seat of worship (1 Samuel 31:10 note).Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-27Verses 17-27 Kasheth, or "the bow," probably was the title of this mournful, funeral song. David does not commend Saul for what he was not; and says nothing of his piety or goodness. Jonathan was a dutiful son, Saul an affectionate father, therefore dear to each other. David had reason to say, that Jonathan's love to him was wonderful. Next to the love between Christ and his people, that affection which springs form it, produces the strongest friendship…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Gath and Ashkelon were major Philistine cities. If people announced Saul’s death there, the Philistines would have the chance to celebrate. They could boast over Israel and praise their god Dagon, while mocking Israel’s God, Yahweh. daughters of the Philistines: In ancient war culture, young women sometimes celebrated victories with songs (see Exodus 15:20–21; 1 Samuel 18:7).Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 1:20

• David
• Elegy
• Friendship
• Jonathan
• Mourning
• Poetry
• Song
• Victories
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Gath
• Philistines
• Gath, Gittite
• Ashkelon
• Beauty
• Circumcision
• Daughter
• David
• Empty
• Gilboa

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings