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

18and he told them to teach the sons of Judah the mourning song of the bow; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. 19“Your beauty, Israel, is slaughtered on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, Or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, The daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate. 21Mountains of Gilboa, May there be no dew nor rain on you, or fields of offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. 22From the blood of those slaughtered, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan did not turn back, And the sword of Saul did not return unstained.

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

• Tellנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
• not in Gathגַּתgath · GathH1661
• Proclaimבָּשַׂרbâώar · to bear tidingsH1319
• it not in the streetsחוּץchûts chûts · outsideH2351
• of Ashkelonאַשְׁקְלוֹן'ashqelôn · AshkelonH831
• Orפֶּן־pên · lestH6435
• the daughtersבַּתbath · daughterH1323
• of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• will rejoiceשָׂמַחώâmach · to rejoiceH8055
• the uncircumcisedעָרֵל‛ârêl · uncircumcisedH6189
• will celebrateעָלַז‛âlaz · to exultH5937

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 1:20

• Deuteronomy 32:26I would have said, “I will wipe them out, I will remove the mention of their name from humanity,”
• Judges 14:19Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty men of them and took what they were wearing and gave the outfits of clothes to those who told the riddle. And his anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.
• Judges 16:23Now the governors of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to celebrate, for they said, “Our god has handed Samson our enemy over to us.”
• 1 Samuel 31:9They cut off his head and stripped off his weapons, and sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to bring the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.
• Micah 1:10Do not tell it in Gath, Do not weep at all. At Beth-le-aphrah roll yourself in the dust in mourning.
• Exodus 15:20Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing.
• Judges 11:34But Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, and behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. And she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter.
• 1 Samuel 18:6Now it happened as they were coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy and with other musical instruments.
• Ezekiel 16:27So behold, I have stretched out My hand against you and cut back your rations. And I turned you over to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your outrageous conduct.
• 1 Samuel 17:26Then David said to the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and rids Israel of the disgrace? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?”
• 1 Samuel 31:4Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised Philistines will come and pierce me through, and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was unwilling, because he was very fearful. So Saul took his 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