2 Samuel 1:21 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →David calls for the mountains of Gilboa to be barren, for there the shield of Saul was cast away in defeat.
What Does 2 Samuel 1:21 Mean?
David turns his lament to the very ground of the tragedy. He calls upon the mountains of Gilboa to receive no dew or rain, as if the land itself should mourn, for there the shield of the mighty, the shield of Saul, was thrown down in shame.
The image of the discarded shield, of an anointed king fallen as though never consecrated, carries deep pathos. The poet wishes creation to share in the grief, the fields left barren where glory died. Sorrow here is so great it reaches into the earth and sky. Yet even this cursing of the ground is an act of love, the heart's protest against the loss of one God had once set apart.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Samuel 1:21
What does 2 Samuel 1:21 mean?
David calls for the mountains of Gilboa to be barren, for there the shield of Saul was cast away in defeat.