2 Samuel 1

2 Samuel 1

McGee points out, “Saul had taught Israel something. He made a contribution. You see, the Israelites had no iron weapons of war, so Saul taught them to be bowmen. The bow and arrow was a formidable weapon. Many of our ancestors would testify to that. The Indians used the bow and arrow to hold back their enemies and win many battles.” behold (hinneh; Lxx = idou), it is written in the book of Jashar - Jasher means "the Righteous One" and David is saying that the Book of Jashar contained ancient poetic accounts of heroic deeds (cf Josh 10:13+) but such a book has not been preserved in the canon. This song was still quoted in the Maccabean period (cf. 1 Macc. 9:20-21). Believer's Study Bible - The Book of Jasher was a collection of ancient hero-songs and is lost. "The Bow" here apparently refers to a martial ode which David took, at least in part, from the lost Book of Jasher.