Chapter One

David’s Lamentation on the Occasion of the Death of Saul and Jonathan.

2 Samuel 1:1. After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the defeat of the Amalekites and had stayed in Ziklag for two days, See (1 Sam 30).

2 Samuel 1:4. And David said to him, “What has happened? Tell me.” And he said, “The people fled from the battle, and many from the people fell and died; and both Saul and his son Jonathan died. See (1 Sam 31:1-6).

2 Samuel 1:7. Then he looked back and, seeing me, called out to me. 2 Samuel 1:8. And I said, “Here I am.” He said to me, “Who are you?” And I said to him, “I am an Amalekite. 2 Samuel 1:9. Then he said to me, “Come near to me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, yet my life still remains in me. 2 Samuel 1:10. And I came near to him and killed him, because I knew that he could not live after his fall; and I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my master. Details not mentioned in (1 Sam 31:1-6).

2 Samuel 1:14. Then David said to him, “How did you not fear to raise your hand to kill the anointed of the Lord? 2 Samuel 1:15. And David called one of the young men and said, “Come, strike him. 2 Samuel 1:16. And that one struck him, and he died. And David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the anointed of the Lord.’ Compare (1 Sam 24:1-4).

2 Samuel 1:18. and commanded to teach the sons of Judah the bow, as it is written in the Book of the Righteous, and said: “And commanded to teach the sons of Judah the bow.” By the word “bow,” according to Calmet’s explanation, was meant the lamentation song of David on the occasion of the death of Saul and Jonathan, whose bow and sword “did not return empty – without the blood of the wounded, without the fatness of the mighty” (2 Sam 1:22). The Book of the Righteous is one of the lost sacred records of the Hebrews. Besides the Book of the Righteous, among the lost ancient Hebrew books cited in the Old Testament are: 1) The Book of the Covenant (Exod 24:7); 2) The Book of the Wars of the Lord (Num 21:14); 3) the original Records of the prophets Samuel, Nathan, Gad, Shemaiah, Iddo, Ahijah, Joel (1 Chr 29:29; 2 Chr 9:29); 4) the originals of the Chronicles of the Acts of Solomon and the Kings of Judah and Israel (see the preface to the Books of Kingdoms); 5) The Records of Hushai (2 Chr 33:19); 6) The Acts of Uzziah (2 Chr 26:22); 7) a separate record of the 3000 proverbs, 1005 songs, and knowledge of natural science of King Solomon (1 Kgs 4:32-33); 8) some of the manuscripts of the prophet Jeremiah (2 Macc 2:1); 9) The Chronicles of John Hyrcanus (1 Macc 16:24); 10) five books of Jason of Cyrene (2 Macc 2:24).