Discovery Box2 Samuel 1:23
Context1:23 Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved 1 during their lives,
and not even in their deaths were they separated.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
2 Samuel 1:1
Context1:1 After the death of Saul, 2 when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, 3 he stayed at Ziklag 4 for two days.
2 Samuel 12:8
Context12:8 I gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your arms. 5 I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well!
Psalms 147:10-11
Context147:10 He is not enamored with the strength of a horse,
nor is he impressed by the warrior’s strong legs. 6
147:11 The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers, 7
and in those who wait for his loyal love.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
Context9:11 Again, 8 I observed this on the earth: 9
the race is not always 10 won by the swiftest,
the battle is not always won by the strongest;
prosperity 11 does not always belong to those who are the wisest,
wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning,
nor does success 12 always come to those with the most knowledge –
for time and chance may overcome 13 them all.
Amos 2:14
Context2:14 Fast runners will find no place to hide; 14
strong men will have no strength left; 15
warriors will not be able to save their lives.
[1:23] 1 tn Heb “beloved and dear.”
[1:1] 2 sn This chapter is closely linked to 1 Sam 31. It should be kept in mind that 1 and 2 Samuel were originally a single book, not separate volumes. Whereas in English Bible tradition the books of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, and Ezra-Nehemiah are each regarded as two separate books, this was not the practice in ancient Hebrew tradition. Early canonical records, for example, counted them as single books respectively. The division into two books goes back to the Greek translation of the OT and was probably initiated because of the cumbersome length of copies due to the Greek practice (unlike that of Hebrew) of writing vowels. The present division into two books can be a little misleading in terms of perceiving the progression of the argument of the book; in some ways it is preferable to treat the books of 1-2 Samuel in a unified fashion.
[1:1] 3 sn The Amalekites were a nomadic people who inhabited Judah and the Transjordan. They are mentioned in Gen 36:15-16 as descendants of Amalek who in turn descended from Esau. In Exod 17:8-16 they are described as having acted in a hostile fashion toward Israel as the Israelites traveled to Canaan from Egypt. In David’s time the Amalekites were viewed as dangerous enemies who raided, looted, and burned Israelite cities (see 1 Sam 30).
[1:1] 4 sn Ziklag was a city in the Negev which had been given to David by Achish king of Gath. For more than a year David used it as a base from which he conducted military expeditions (see 1 Sam 27:5-12). According to 1 Sam 30:1-19, Ziklag was destroyed by the Amalekites while Saul fought the Philistines.
[12:8] 5 tn Heb “and the wives of your lord into your chest [or “lap”].” The words “I put” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarification.
[147:10] 6 tn Heb “he does not desire the strength of the horse, he does not take delight in the legs of the man.” Here “the horse” refers to the war horse used by ancient Near Eastern chariot forces, and “the man” refers to the warrior whose muscular legs epitomize his strength.
[147:11] 7 tn Heb “those who fear him.”
[9:11] 8 tn Heb “I returned and.” In the Hebrew idiom, “to return and do” means “to do again.”
[9:11] 9 tn Heb “under the sun.”
[9:11] 10 tn The term “always” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation (five times in this verse) for clarity.
[2:14] 14 tn Heb “and a place of refuge will perish from the swift.”
[2:14] 15 tn Heb “the strong will not increase his strength.”
