Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 1:27
How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
27. How are the mighty fallen ] This thrice-repeated refrain sounds the keynote of the elegy. Cp. Psa 42:5; Psa 42:11; Psa 43:5; Psa 107:8; Psa 107:15; Psa 107:21; Psa 107:31.
the weapons of war ] Metaphorically, of Saul and Jonathan as the instruments of battle for the nation. Cp. Isa 13:5, Act 9:15 ( as in the LXX. here). To understand it literally of swords and spears would close the most pathetic of elegies with an incredible bathos.
Dean Stanley observes that “Over the portal of the sepulchral chapel of the most famous of mediaeval heroes the tomb of the Cid near Burgos we find inscribed the words of David “How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished,” “ Quomodo ceciderunt robusti, et perierunt arma bellica ” ( Lect. II. 31).
It is needless to dwell on the poetic beauty, the chivalrous loyalty, the tender love, which characterize this most pathetic of funeral odes.
“Saul had fallen with all his sins upon his head, fallen in the bitterness of despair, and as it might have seemed to mortal eye, under the shadow of the curse of God. But not only is there in David’s lament no revengeful feeling at the death of his persecutor. but he dwells with unmixed love on the brighter recollections of the departed. He speaks only of the Saul of earlier times, the mighty conqueror, the delight of his people, the father of his beloved and faithful friend; like him in life, united with him in death. Such expressions may fairly be taken as justifying the irrepressible instinct of humanity which compels us to dwell on the best qualities of those who have just departed.” Stanley, Lect. II. 30. See too a noble passage to the same effect in Maurice’s Prophets and Kings, Serm. II., p. 32.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Either,
1. Metaphorically so called, to wit, Saul and Jonathan, and the brave commanders and soldiers of Israel; who might have been called the chariots of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. Or rather,
2. Properly; for, together with the men, their arms were lost, which was a very great aggravation of their loss, and that loss seems to be at this time more irrecoverable and dangerous than the loss of their men.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
How are the mighty fallen,…. This is the burden of this elegiac song, being the third time it is mentioned:
and the weapons of war perished! not only the valiant soldiers were killed, but their arms were lost; and particularly he may mean Saul and Jonathan, who as they were the shields of the people, so they were the true weapons and instruments of war, and with them all military glory perished; which must be understood as a poetical figure, exaggerating their military characters; otherwise David, and many mighty men with him, remained, and who revived and increased the military glory of Israel, as the following history shows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The third strophe (2Sa 1:27) contains simply a brief aftertone of sorrow, in which the ode does away:
Oh how are the mighty fallen,
The instruments of war perished!
“The instruments of war” are not the weapons; but the expression is a figurative one, referring to the heroes by whom war was carried on (vid., Isa 13:5). Luther has adopted this rendering ( die Streitbaren).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
27. Implements of war The shields and other implements that were vilely cast away. 2Sa 1:21. Some understand here, not the weapons of war but the heroes, considered figuratively as the instruments by whom the war was carried on, and Isa 13:5, is referred to as a parallel. But though persons are sometimes in this sense termed instruments, we nowhere find them called instruments of war; and as this elegy makes mention of military weapons as cast away with abhorrence, we feel obliged to adhere to the most obvious signification of the word.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
REFLECTIONS
SEE Reader! in the beautiful conduct of David at Saul’s death, how grace enables the believer to stay all enmity, and even to requite good for evil. Depend upon it, nothing but this can accomplish such a purpose; for it is the sole work of God the Holy Ghost.
But let us, in the view of this chapter, go further and remark, that as nothing but grace can throw down all the jealousies of life in our competition with others, so nothing but the same divine principle can reconcile us to our death. Until we know Jesus truly and savingly, we can neither think of death with comfort nor meet it with fortitude, Yes, dearest Jesus! it is thy death, which hath overcome death; and thy blood which hath taken out its sting. Oh! grant me grace ever to be keeping thy triumphs for thy people in view, and never to look at death but with a steady eye also to thee. Thy victory over death, hell, and the grave, is the everlasting consolation of thy people; and death, no more than life, or principalities, or powers, shall be able to separate from thee. Through death thou hast destroyed him that had the power of death, and hast delivered them who through fear of death are all their lifetime subject to bondage. Oh! thou dearest Lord! give me to see the full privilege of thy triumphs; that my iniquity is pardoned, and my sin covered; that death hath no terrors, nor the grave any alarm; let me hear that blessed voice of thine, and my soul will rejoice in full assurance of faith: Fear not, I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive forevermore, and have the keys of hell and death. Amen.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 1:27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
Ver. 27. How are the mighty fallen! ] See 2Sa 1:19 .
And the weapons of war perished!
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
How, &c. Render: “How [is it that] mighty ones have fallen, and weapons of war have perished”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
How are: 2Sa 1:19, 2Sa 1:25
weapons: 2Ki 2:12, 2Ki 13:14, Psa 46:9, Eze 39:9, Eze 39:10