2 Samuel 1:18

2 Samuel 1:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
• New International Version (NIV)and he ordered that the people of Judah be taught this lament of the bow (it is written in the Book of Jashar):
• English Standard Version (ESV)and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:
• New King James Version (NKJV)and he told them to teach the children of Judah the Song of the Bow; indeed it is written in the Book of Jasher:

Context of 2 Samuel 1:18

16David said to him, “Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying ‘I have put the Lord’s anointed to death.’” 17Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan. (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught “The Bow.” Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.) 19The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! 20Don’t report it in Gath, don’t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!

2 Samuel 1:18 word by word

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לְלַמֵּ֥ד בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֖ה קָ֑שֶׁת הִנֵּ֥ה כְתוּבָ֖ה עַל־סֵ֥פֶר הַיָּשָֽׁר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Also he badeאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• them teachלָמַדlâmad · to learn: teachH3925
• the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
• the bowקֶ֫שֶׁתqesheth · bowH7198
• writtenכָּתַבkâthab · to writeH3789
• in the bookסֵ֫פֶרsêpher siphrâh · scroll: bookH5612
• of Jasherיָשָׁרyâshâr · JasharH3477

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 1:18

• Genesis 49:8Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, your father’s sons will bow down before you.
• Deuteronomy 4:10You stood before the Lord your God at Horeb and he said to me, “Assemble the people before me so that I can tell them my commands. Then they will learn to revere me all the days they live in the land, and they will instruct their children.”
• 1 Samuel 20:36He said to his servant, “Run, find the arrows that I am about to shoot.” As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him.
• Joshua 10:13The sun stood still and the moon stood motionless while the nation took vengeance on its enemies. The event is recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One. The sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky and did not set for about a full day.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 1:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18The use of the bow - The use of is not in the Hebrew; it is simply the bow, that is, a song thus entitled. See the observations at the end, 2 Samuel 1:21; (note).Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18The use of the bow - Omit “the use of.” “The bow” is the name by which this dirge was known, being so called from the mention of Jonathan‘s bow in 2 Samuel 1:22. The sense would then be: And he commanded them to teach the children of Israel the song called Kasheth (the bow), i. e. he gave directions that the song should be learned by heart (compare Deuteronomy 31:19). It has been further suggested that in the Book of Jasher there was, among other things…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. 18The Book of Jashar is an extrabiblical text (not included in the Bible) and is no longer available. It was probably an Israelite epic poem or a collection of poems. These poems likely described important events in Israel’s history, including Joshua’s conquest of Canaan (see Joshua 10:13) and the rise of David as king.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-1817-18. David lamented with this lamentation--It has always been customary for Eastern people, on the death of great kings and warriors, to celebrate their qualities and deeds in funeral songs. This inimitable pathetic elegy is supposed by many writers to have become a national war song, and to have been taught to the young Israelites under the name of "The Bow," in conformity with the practice of Hebrew and many classical writers in giving titles to their…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 1:18

• Archery
• Armies
• Bow
• David
• Friendship
• Jonathan
• Military Instruction
• Mourning

In the dictionaries

• Judah
• Judah, kingdom of Judah
• Judea, Judah
• Battlebow
• Beauty
• Bow
• David
• Empty
• Gilboa
• Jasher

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