2 Samuel 1:11

WEB

Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and likewise all the men who were with him.

KJV

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

Commentary

Commentary

When David took hold on his clothes,.... Not on the young man's but his own: and rent them; on bearing of the death of Saul and Jonathan, see Gen 37:34 ; from whence the Jews (l) gather, that a man is bound to rend his clothes for a prince, and for the father of the sanhedrim, since Saul, they say, was the prince, and Jonathan the father of that court: and likewise all the men that were with him; rent their clothes also, in imitation of him; the same custom obtained among the Gentiles on mournful occasions (m). (l) T. Bab. Moed. Katon, fol. 26. 1. (m) "-----it scissa veste Latinus". Virgil. Aeneid. 12. prope finem.