1:19 The beauty 1 of Israel lies slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
1:20 Don’t report it in Gath,
don’t spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon, 2
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!
1 sn The word beauty is used figuratively here to refer to Saul and Jonathan.
2 sn The cities of Gath and Ashkelon are mentioned here by synecdoche of part for the whole. As major Philistine cities they in fact represent all of Philistia. The point is that when the sad news of fallen Israelite leadership reaches the Philistines, it will be for these enemies of Israel the occasion of great joy rather than grief.