Bible Strands
2 Samuel 1:20
Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — David issues this command during his formal lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, directing Israel to suppress public announcement of the military defeat. The instruction addresses the nation at a moment of immediate crisis and collective mourning.
The words — The text commands `ta.Gi.du` (you tell) and `te.va.se.Ru` (you bear news) paired with the warning `pen-` (lest) the enemy celebrate. These verbs establish a strict prohibition against broadcasting the loss to hostile territories.
The thread — The exact phrase "Tell it not in Gath" reappears in Micah 1:10 as a warning against public mourning. The concern over enemy women rejoicing parallels the recorded responses of Israelite women in 1 Samuel 18:6 and Exodus 15:20.
Why it lands — The verse demands restraint in public discourse when facing military defeat, prioritizing national dignity over sensational reporting. It requires readers to recognize that some truths must be contained to prevent adversaries from claiming victory.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
Cross-references
- Micah 1:10 Do not tell it in Gath; do not weep at all. Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.
- 1 Samuel 18:6 As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.
- Exodus 15:20 Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her with tambourines and dancing.
- Judges 11:34 And when Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, there was his daughter coming out to meet him with tambourines and dancing! She was his only child; he had no son or daughter besides her.
- Deuteronomy 32:26 I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind,
- Judges 14:19 Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house,
- Judges 16:23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.”
- 1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
- 1 Samuel 17:36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
- 1 Samuel 31:4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.