2 Samuel 1:20

20 Don't announce it in the city of Gath, don't post the news in the streets of Ashkelon. Don't give those coarse Philistine girls one more excuse for a drunken party!

2 Samuel 1:20 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 1:20

Tell [it] not in Gath
One of the five principalities of the Philistines, and the chief of them, being raised to a kingdom, and whose king was at the head of the armies of the Philistines that engaged with Saul. This is not to be understood of a command of David, who could not hinder the victory the Philistines had got over Israel being known at Gath, and talked of with pleasure there, but a wish it had not:

publish [it] not in the streets of Ashkelon;
another of the principalities of the Philistines, and the sense the same as before:

lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of
the uncircumcised triumph;
it being usual in those times and countries for women, young women more especially, to express their joy, on occasion of victories obtained, by singing and dancing, ( Judges 11:34 ) ( 1 Samuel 18:6 1 Samuel 18:7 ) .

2 Samuel 1:20 In-Context

18 and gave orders that everyone in Judah learn it by heart. Yes, it's even inscribed in The Book of Jashar.

19 Oh, oh, Gazelles of Israel, struck down on your hills, the mighty warriors - fallen, fallen!

20 Don't announce it in the city of Gath, don't post the news in the streets of Ashkelon. Don't give those coarse Philistine girls one more excuse for a drunken party!

21 No more dew or rain for you, hills of Gilboa, and not a drop from springs and wells, For there the warriors' shields were dragged through the mud, Saul's shield left there to rot.

22 Jonathan's bow was bold - the bigger they were the harder they fell. Saul's sword was fearless - once out of the scabbard, nothing could stop it.