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2 Samuel 1:23

in 2 Samuel 1

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

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.

KJV

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

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This verse in 2 Samuel 1

Commentary

6 notes on this verse

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

But it is observable, that David speaks not a word here of his piety; but only commends him for those things which were truly in him. A fit pattern for all preachers in their funeral commendations. Swifter, &c. - Expeditious in pursuing their enemies, and executing their designs; which is a great commendation in a prince, and in a soldier.

This site's exposition

Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life

on 2 Samuel 1:23-24

David praises father and son, “not divided in death”, and commends what was true of them, “swifter than eagles” and “stronger than lions”. John Wesley notes that David claims no piety for Saul. Verse 24 calls the daughters to weep for the king “who clothed you in scarlet and luxury”.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

, 27 ), and so the strength of the people is weakened. Public losses are most laid to heart by men of public spirit. David hoped God would make him instrumental to repair those losses and yet laments them.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped. 4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:100%@v3-4

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

): Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant. Jonathan was always so, and Saul was so as long as he concurred with him. Take them together, and in the pursuit of the enemy, never were men more bold, more brave; they were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives,....

The words behind it

12 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • שָׁא֣וּלSaul

    shaulH7586 →402 times

  • וִיהוֹנָתָ֗ןand Jonathan

    vihonatanH3083 →81 times

  • הַנֶּאֱהָבִ֤ים<the> lovable

    haneehavimH157 →211 times

  • וְהַנְּעִימִם֙and <the> pleasant

    vehaneimimH5273 →

  • בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔םin lives their

    bechaiyeihemH2416 →498 times

  • וּבְמוֹתָ֖םand in death their

    uvemotamH4194 →156 times

  • לֹ֣אnot

    lo'H3808 →5168 times

  • נִפְרָ֑דוּthey were separated

    nifraduH6504 →

  • מִנְּשָׁרִ֣יםmore than eagles

    minesharimH5404 →

  • קַ֔לּוּthey were swift

    kaluH7043 →82 times

  • מֵאֲרָי֖וֹתmore than lions

    mearayotH738 →80 times

  • גָּבֵֽרוּ׃they were strong

    gaveruH1396 →

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.7 worksJeremiah 4:13Behold, he advances like the clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!6 worksJudges 14:18Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!”4 worksPsalms 147:10He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legpower of the man.4 worksJob 9:26They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.3 worksDeuteronomy 28:49The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Proverbs 30:30a lion, mighty among beasts, refusing to retreat before anything;3 worksLamentations 4:19Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.3 works2 Samuel 1:19“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen!3 works1 Chronicles 12:8Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:2 works1 Samuel 31:1–5Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.2 works1 Samuel 18:1After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.2 works2 Samuel 23:20And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.2 works2 Samuel 2:18The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle,2 worksDaniel 7:4The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man.2 worksJoel 2:7They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course.2 works1 Chronicles 11:22And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.2 works2 Samuel 17:10Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Deuteronomy 28:49

    The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,

    it leads to

    • Lamentations 4:19

      Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness.

      Reached by 3 separate paths from here.

    • Jeremiah 49:22

      Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s mighty men will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

    • Jeremiah 48:40

      For this is what the LORD says: “Behold, an eagle swoops down and spreads his wings against Moab.

    • Hosea 8:1

      Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.

  • Through

    Job 9:26

    They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

    it leads to

    • Habakkuk 1:8

      Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    Jeremiah 4:13

    Behold, he advances like the clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 19:1

      This is the burden against Egypt: Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud; He is coming to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble before Him, and the hearts of the Egyptians will…

    • Isaiah 66:15

      For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire.

    • Isaiah 5:28

      Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Samuel

David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
David Mourns the Death of Absalom, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
2 Samuel: the study guide →Read 2 Samuel 1 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 2 Samuel 1 →