2 Samuel 1:21

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Ye mountains {H2022} of Gilboa {H1533}, let there be no dew {H2919}, neither let there be rain {H4306}, upon you, nor fields {H7704} of offerings {H8641}: for there the shield {H4043} of the mighty {H1368} is vilely cast away {H1602}, the shield {H4043} of Saul {H7586}, as though he had not been anointed {H4899} with oil {H8081}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Mountains of Gilboa - may there be on you no dew, no rain, no fields with good crops; because there the shields of the heroes were dishonored, the shield of Sha'ul was no longer rubbed with oil.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
David's poignant lament in 2 Samuel 1:21, a core component of "The Song of the Bow," articulates profound grief and national shame following Israel's catastrophic defeat and the deaths of King Saul and his son Jonathan on Mount Gilboa. This verse expresses David's heartfelt curse upon the battlefield, wishing it perpetual barrenness, and mourns the ignominious end of Saul, whose shield, a potent symbol of his royal authority and divine anointing, was disgracefully abandoned. It powerfully encapsulates the tragic consequences of Israel's military rout and the poignant loss of its anointed king.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment within David's elegy, famously titled "The Song of the Bow" (2 Samuel 1:18), composed immediately after he receives the devastating news of Saul and Jonathan's deaths from an Amalekite messenger (2 Samuel 1:1-16). The preceding narrative vividly portrays David's intense sorrow, marked by tearing his clothes and weeping (2 Samuel 1:11-12). The lament itself commences in [2 Samuel 1:19](/2_samuel/1-19 "2 Samuel 1:19 - David's Lament Begins"), establishing a solemn tone of national mourning and deep personal grief. Verse 21 specifically directs David's anguish towards the geographical site of the tragedy, Mount Gilboa, and the symbolic disgrace of Saul's demise, setting the stage for David's more intimate and heartfelt eulogy for Jonathan in the subsequent verses (2 Samuel 1:25-26). The entire song serves as a profound testament to David's character, showcasing his capacity to honor Saul despite their protracted conflict and to profoundly mourn his beloved friend.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The battle on Mount Gilboa, meticulously recounted in [1 Samuel 31](/1_samuel/31 "1 Samuel 31 - The Death of Saul and His Sons"), represents a catastrophic military defeat for Israel at the hands of the Philistines, their enduring adversaries. Mount Gilboa, strategically situated in the Jezreel Valley, was a critical battleground. The death of a king in battle, particularly one who had been divinely anointed, was perceived as an unparalleled national calamity. A king's shield transcended its function as mere armor; it was a potent emblem of his strength, protection, and sovereign authority. For it to be "vilely cast away" implied not merely defeat, but utter humiliation, a complete abandonment of valor, and a profound disgrace. The sacred ritual of anointing with oil was foundational to Israelite kingship, signifying divine selection and empowerment, as vividly illustrated by [Samuel's anointing of Saul](/1_samuel/10-1 "1 Samuel 10:1 - Saul's Anointing"). David's lament skillfully taps into the deep cultural understanding of these symbols, thereby amplifying the tragedy and its national implications.

* **Key Themes:** David's lament in [2 Samuel 1:21](/2_samuel/1-21 "2 Samuel 1:21 - David's Curse on Gilboa") contributes significantly to several overarching themes woven throughout the books of Samuel. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the theme of **profound grief and lament** as a natural and righteous human response to both national tragedy and personal loss, exemplified by David's raw emotion and his composition of this elegy. Secondly, it highlights the **shame and disgrace of defeat**, particularly for an anointed king, vividly symbolized by the "vilely cast away" shield. This speaks to the loss of honor and perceived divine favor that accompanied Saul's tragic end, a direct consequence of his persistent disobedience detailed throughout [1 Samuel](/1_samuel "1 Samuel - The Rise of David and Fall of Saul"). Finally, the verse subtly yet powerfully points to the **divinely orchestrated transition of kingship** from Saul to David. While genuinely mourning Saul, the narrative simultaneously prepares the audience for David's ascendance, a divinely ordained plan that would ultimately culminate in the [Davidic Covenant](/2_samuel/7-16 "2 Samuel 7:16 - The Davidic Covenant") and the establishment of an enduring dynasty.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Gilboa (Hebrew, _Gilbôaʻ_):** This refers to the specific mountain range in Palestine where the decisive and devastating battle between Israel and the Philistines occurred, leading to the deaths of King Saul and his sons. David's curse upon Gilboa—"no dew, neither let there be rain... nor fields of offerings"—is a profound act of symbolic desolation. It expresses a wish for perpetual barrenness and sorrow upon the very ground where such a national tragedy unfolded, reflecting the depth of his anguish and seeking to strip the land of its natural blessings as a perpetual memorial to the ignominy suffered there.
* **vilely cast away (Hebrew, _gâʻal_):** Derived from the primitive root H1602, meaning "to detest; by implication, to reject; abhor, fail, lothe, vilely cast away." This word conveys a profound sense of defilement, contempt, or disgust. It signifies more than just the discarding of Saul's shield; it implies that it was treated with utter disdain, as something detestable or polluted. This emphasizes the extreme humiliation and disgrace of the defeat, suggesting that the very symbol of royal power and protection was rendered worthless and abhorrent on the battlefield.
* **anointed with oil (Hebrew, _mâshîyach_ related concept):** This phrase refers to the sacred ritual of anointing (from H4899, _mâshîyach_, "anointed"), typically performed by a prophet, which consecrated individuals—especially kings, priests, or prophets—for divine service. Saul was initially anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1). To say his shield was cast away "as though he had not been anointed with oil" is deeply ironic and tragic. It implies that in the moment of his death, the divine favor and authority that his anointing signified seemed utterly nullified or forgotten, highlighting the tragic failure of his reign and the ignominious manner of his death.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings:"** David directly addresses the mountains of Gilboa, employing **apostrophe** to personify them. His curse is a vivid and emotional expression of grief and anger, wishing for the complete cessation of natural blessings (dew, rain) that sustain life and agriculture. "Fields of offerings" likely refers to fields that produce grain for peace offerings or firstfruits, thus wishing for a cessation of fertility and, by extension, the means of worship and sustenance from that place. This is a powerful symbolic act of mourning, marking Gilboa as a place of perpetual desolation due to the national tragedy it witnessed.
* **"for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul,"** This clause provides the explicit reason for David's curse. The "shield of the mighty" refers to the shield of a valiant warrior, specifically identified as "the shield of Saul." The phrase "vilely cast away" (from the Hebrew root _gâʻal_, meaning to detest or abhor) powerfully underscores the profound disgrace and humiliation of the defeat. It implies that the very symbol of the king's strength and protection was not merely lost, but discarded with contempt or defiled, reflecting the utter rout and ignominy suffered by Israel's forces.
* **"as though he had not been anointed with oil."** This poignant concluding phrase highlights the tragic irony of Saul's end. As God's anointed king, Saul held a sacred and divinely sanctioned office. Yet, his shield was treated as if he were an ordinary, unanointed man, stripped of all royal dignity and divine favor. This reflects not only the Philistine's contempt but also the perceived abandonment of Saul by God, a consequence of his persistent disobedience that had led to the departure of the Spirit of the Lord from him (1 Samuel 16:14). It underscores the depth of his fall from grace and the ignominious conclusion of his reign.

#### Literary Devices
David's lament in 2 Samuel 1:21 masterfully employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey its profound emotion and theological significance. The most prominent is **Apostrophe**, where David directly addresses the inanimate "mountains of Gilboa," imbuing them with a sense of culpability for the tragedy and cursing them as if they could hear and suffer. This personification intensely amplifies the emotional weight of the lament. **Hyperbole** is evident in the wish for "no dew, neither rain," and "no fields of offerings," an exaggerated curse of perpetual barrenness that underscores the depth of David's sorrow and the immense magnitude of the national disaster. **Symbolism** is richly interwoven throughout the verse: the "shield" symbolizes Saul's kingship, his strength, and his role as protector, its "vile" abandonment representing the utter disgrace of his defeat. The "anointing with oil" symbolizes divine election and favor, its apparent nullification highlighting the tragic end of a king who had lost God's Spirit. Finally, a profound sense of **Irony** pervades the verse, as the king who was once God's anointed, chosen to protect Israel, dies in such a way that his shield is treated as though he never held that sacred status, emphasizing the tragic consequences of his disobedience and spiritual decline.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse, steeped in David's profound lament, offers significant theological insights into the nature of kingship, divine sovereignty, and the devastating consequences of disobedience. It portrays the tragic end of Saul's reign not merely as a military defeat, but as a symbolic stripping away of the dignity and divine favor once bestowed upon God's anointed. Despite Saul's personal failings and God's rejection of his dynasty, David, God's chosen successor, still mourns the loss of the Lord's anointed, demonstrating profound respect for the sacred office even when the man holding it had fallen. This highlights the complex interplay of human agency and divine decree, where God's ultimate plan unfolds even through tragedy and human failure. The curse on Gilboa also speaks to the profound spiritual impact of national calamity, where even the land itself is seen to bear the mark of sin and sorrow, reflecting the deep interconnectedness between human actions and the created order in biblical thought.

* [1 Samuel 31:4](/1_samuel/31-4 "1 Samuel 31:4 - Saul's Suicide") - Describes Saul's desperate act of suicide on Gilboa, confirming the ignominious end that David laments.
* [1 Samuel 16:14](/1_samuel/16-14 "1 Samuel 16:14 - The Spirit Departs from Saul") - Explains that the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, providing the theological backdrop for the "as though he had not been anointed" lament.
* [Psalm 78:60-61](/psalms/78-60-61 "Psalm 78:60-61 - God Abandons Shiloh and Gives Up His Strength") - Describes God's abandonment of Shiloh and the giving up of His "strength into captivity," paralleling the sense of divine abandonment and national disgrace felt at Gilboa.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's lament over Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa offers a powerful and enduring model for processing profound grief and national sorrow. It reminds us that lament is not a sign of weakness or a lack of faith, but rather a deeply human and biblically affirmed response to loss, even when that loss involves complex or flawed figures. David's profound willingness to mourn Saul, despite their tumultuous and often hostile relationship, underscores the importance of honoring the office and the inherent sacredness of human life. This passage challenges us to consider thoughtfully how we respond to moments of public and personal tragedy, encouraging us to acknowledge the pain, express sorrow authentically, and seek God's perspective and comfort even amidst devastating circumstances. Furthermore, Saul's tragic end serves as a sobering reminder of the severe consequences of disobedience and the potential for even divinely appointed individuals to fall from grace when they persistently stray from God's revealed will. It prompts us to examine our own lives, ensuring that our actions consistently align with our calling and that we remain faithful and obedient to the Lord, lest our own "shields"—our integrity, our purpose, our spiritual effectiveness—be "vilely cast away" through spiritual compromise, rebellion, or neglect.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's raw expression of grief and lament in this verse challenge or affirm your own understanding of how to process loss and sorrow, particularly concerning complex relationships or public figures?**
* **What does the "vilely cast away shield" symbolize in your own life—perhaps areas where you've felt disgraced, abandoned, or where your "anointing" (calling, purpose, gifts) feels compromised or ineffective?**
* **Considering Saul's journey and tragic end, what profound lessons can we draw from the consequences of disobedience, even for those who have been divinely chosen or gifted with significant responsibility?**
* **How might we, like David, find ways to honor those who have fallen or failed, while still acknowledging the full weight of their actions or the circumstances that led to their downfall?**

### FAQ
**Why does David curse the mountains of Gilboa?**

Answer: David curses the mountains of Gilboa as a symbolic act of profound grief and national mourning. Gilboa was the literal site of Israel's devastating defeat by the Philistines and the tragic deaths of King Saul and his sons, including David's beloved friend Jonathan. By wishing for no dew, rain, or fields of offerings, David is expressing a deep desire for the land itself to reflect the desolation and shame of what occurred there. It's a poetic and emotional outcry, marking the place as perpetually barren and cursed due to the immense tragedy and disgrace it witnessed, rather than a literal expectation of meteorological change.

**What is the significance of "the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away"?**

Answer: The shield of a king or mighty warrior was a powerful symbol of his strength, protection, and royal authority in ancient Near Eastern cultures. To have it "vilely cast away" (from the Hebrew root _gâʻal_, meaning defiled, loathed, or rejected) signifies an utterly ignominious defeat and profound disgrace. It's not merely that Saul's shield was lost, but that it was treated with contempt, suggesting a complete rout where the king's very emblem of power was abandoned in shame. This highlights the depth of Israel's humiliation and the tragic, undignified end of Saul's reign, emphasizing the perceived abandonment of valor and divine favor.

**What does "as though he had not been anointed with oil" imply about Saul's death?**

Answer: This phrase adds a layer of tragic irony and theological depth to David's lament. Saul had been divinely chosen and consecrated as king through the sacred ritual of anointing with oil by the prophet Samuel ([1 Samuel 10:1](/1_samuel/10-1 "1 Samuel 10:1 - Saul's Anointing")). The anointing signified God's Spirit resting upon him and His divine favor. However, due to Saul's repeated disobedience and rebellion against God's commands, the Spirit of the Lord had departed from him ([1 Samuel 16:14](/1_samuel/16-14 "1 Samuel 16:14 - The Spirit Departs from Saul")). David's lament implies that Saul's death was so undignified and inglorious that it seemed to nullify his sacred status as the Lord's anointed. It underscores the tragic consequences of his unfaithfulness and the perceived abandonment by God, leaving him to die like any common, unanointed man, stripped of his divine protection and regal dignity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
2 Samuel 1:21, with its lament over the fallen king and the disgraced shield, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the perfect kingship and redemptive sacrifice of Jesus. Saul, Israel's first anointed king, tragically failed to uphold his divine calling, leading to a shameful death on Gilboa where his shield was "vilely cast away," symbolizing a kingship that ultimately could not deliver or protect its people. This tragic end highlights humanity's desperate need for a true, enduring King. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true [Anointed One (Messiah)](/john/1-41 "John 1:41 - Andrew Finds the Messiah"), did not have His "shield" cast away in disgrace; rather, He willingly laid down His life on the cross, not in defeat, but in ultimate victory over sin and death ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Jesus' Humility and Obedience")). While Saul's anointing seemed nullified by his failure, Christ's anointing is eternally affirmed through His resurrection and ascension, establishing a kingdom that will never end ([Luke 1:33](/luke/1-33 "Luke 1:33 - Jesus' Eternal Kingdom")). The barrenness wished upon Gilboa for its role in Israel's defeat is profoundly overcome by the life-giving Spirit of Christ, who brings spiritual fruitfulness and abundant life to all who believe ([Galatians 5:22-23](/galatians/5-22-23 "Galatians 5:22-23 - The Fruit of the Spirit")). Thus, Saul's tragic end serves as a powerful foreshadowing of the necessity of Christ's perfect reign, where the true King offers not a cast-away shield, but eternal salvation, an unshakeable kingdom, and an everlasting covenant.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Samuel 31:1

¶ Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

Isaiah 21:5

Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, [and] anoint the shield.

1 Samuel 10:1

¶ Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured [it] upon his head, and kissed him, and said, [Is it] not because the LORD hath anointed thee [to be] captain over his inheritance?

1 Chronicles 10:1

¶ Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

Joel 1:9

The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.

Ezekiel 31:15

Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.

1 Chronicles 10:8

¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.