2 Samuel 1:27

27 How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”

2 Samuel 1:27 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 1:27

How are the mighty fallen
This is the burden of this elegiac song, being the third time it is mentioned:

and the weapons of war perished!
not only the valiant soldiers were killed, but their arms were lost; and particularly he may mean Saul and Jonathan, who as they were the shields of the people, so they were the true weapons and instruments of war, and with them all military glory perished; which must be understood as a poetical figure, exaggerating their military characters; otherwise David, and many mighty men with him, remained, and who revived and increased the military glory of Israel, as the following history shows.

2 Samuel 1:27 In-Context

25 How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your heights.

26 I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

27 How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished!”