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 commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar. 19Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills! Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen! 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. 21O mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor fruitful fields producing offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty heroes was defiled; the shield of Saul will no longer be anointed with oil. 22The bow of Jonathan was powerful, and the sword of Saul did its mighty work. They shed the blood of their enemies and pierced the bodies of mighty heroes.

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 would have annihilated them, wiping out even the memory of them.
• Judges 14:19Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to the town of Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their belongings, and gave their clothing to the men who had solved his riddle. But Samson was furious about what had happened, and he went back home to live with his father and mother.
• Judges 16:23The Philistine rulers held a great festival, offering sacrifices and praising their god, Dagon. They said, “Our god has given us victory over our enemy Samson!”
• 1 Samuel 31:9So they cut off Saul’s head and stripped off his armor. Then they proclaimed the good news of Saul’s death in their pagan temple and to the people throughout the land of Philistia.
• Micah 1:10Don’t tell our enemies in Gath; don’t weep at all. You people in Beth-leaphrah, roll in the dust to show your despair.
• Exodus 15:20Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced.
• Judges 11:34When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters.
• 1 Samuel 18:6When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.
• Ezekiel 16:27That is why I struck you with my fist and reduced your boundaries. I handed you over to your enemies, the Philistines, and even they were shocked by your lewd conduct.
• 1 Samuel 17:26David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”
• 1 Samuel 31:4Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own 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