2 Samuel 1:21

¹⁹ “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!

²⁰ Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.

²² From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

²³ Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
KJV: Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
WEB: You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain on you, and no fields of offerings; for there the shield of the mighty was defiled and cast away, the shield of Saul was not anointed with oil.
ASV: Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.
DARBY: Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, no rain upon you, nor fields of heave-offerings! For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, [as] not anointed with oil.
BLB: O Mountains of Gilboa, no dew nor rain [be] upon you⁺, nor fields of contributions. For there is cast away the shield of the mighty, the shield of Saul, not anointed with the oil.

ÅB: Dere Gilboa-fjell! Ikke falle det dugg eller regn på dere, ei heller være der marker som bærer offergaver! For der ble heltes skjold plettet med blod, Sauls skjold, ei salvet med olje.
OTB: Gilboas fjell,
Må ingen dugg eller regn falle på dere,
Heller ikke marker som gir offergaver,
For der ble de mektiges skjold vanæret,
Sauls skjold—ikke lenger salvet med olje.
B1930: I Gilboa-fjell! Ikke falle det dugg eller regn på eder, ei heller være der marker som bærer offergaver! For der blev heltes skjold plettet med blod, Sauls skjold, ei salvet med olje.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 31:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
Read in context
Isaiah 21:5
They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields!
Read in context
1 Samuel 10:1
Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?
Read in context
Ezekiel 31:15
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘On the day it was brought down to Sheol, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it; I held back its rivers; its abundant waters were restrained. I made Lebanon mourn for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it.
Read in context
Joel 2:14
Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him— grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.
Read in context
1 Chronicles 10:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
Read in context
1 Chronicles 10:8
The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
Read in context
Job 3:3–10
“May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’
Read in context