1. 2 Samuel 1:19 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is the glory that lies slain on the high places?

2 Samuel 1:19 (ESV)

19 “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!

The Hebrew word translated as glory can also be translated as gazelle. An image is thus presented of a majestic buck, the master of the rugged hills of Israel, lying dead on the top of a mountain.1 This would be a very undesirable and unpleasant sight to come across in nature; likewise the death of Saul and Jonathan, the national heroes of Israel.2