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

18(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! Don’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! 21O mountains of Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings! For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled; the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil. 22From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors, the bow of Jonathan was not turned away. The sword of Saul never returned empty.

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 32:26“I said, ‘I want to cut them in pieces. I want to make people forget they ever existed.
• Judges 14:19The Lord’s spirit empowered him. He went down to Ashkelon and murdered thirty men. He took their clothes and gave them to the men who had solved the riddle. He was furious as he went back home.
• Judges 16:23The rulers of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate. They said, “Our god has handed Samson, our enemy, over to us.”
• 1 Samuel 31:9They cut off Saul’s head and stripped him of his armor. They sent messengers to announce the news in the temple of their idols and among their people throughout the surrounding land of the Philistines.
• Micah 1:10Don’t spread the news in Gath! Don’t shed even a single tear! In Beth Leaphrah sit in the dust!
• Exodus 15:20Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a hand-drum in her hand, and all the women went out after her with hand-drums and with dances.
• Judges 11:34When Jephthah came home to Mizpah, there was his daughter hurrying out to meet him, dancing to the rhythm of tambourines. She was his only child; except for her he had no son or daughter.
• 1 Samuel 18:6When the men arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul. They were happy as they played their tambourines and three-stringed instruments.
• Ezekiel 16:27So see here, I have stretched out my hand against you and cut off your rations. I have delivered you into the power of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed by your obscene conduct.
• 1 Samuel 17:26David asked the men who were standing near him, “What will be done for the man who strikes down this Philistine and frees Israel from this humiliation? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he defies the armies of the living God?”
• 1 Samuel 31:4Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and stab me with it! Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come, stab me, and torture me.” But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. 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