2 Samuel 1:12

mourned The word literally denotes the beating of the breast, which is still a common expression of mourning in the East.

fasted until even Fasting is mentioned as a sign of mourning in 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 3:35; 2 Samuel 12:21-22. The day's fast was considered to terminate at sunset, as at the present day in Mahommedan countries.

for the people of theLord, and for the house of Israel By "the people of Jehovah" is meant the army, gathered to fight Jehovah's battles against the heathen. Cp. 1 Samuel 25:28; and for people = armycp. 2 Samuel 1:4 and 1 Samuel 4:3. "The house of Israel" describes the whole nation united under Saul, and now broken and scattered by his defeat and death.

The Sept. has "for the people of Judah," a reading which involves a very slight change of letters, but is probably either an accidental corruption or an intentional emendation to get rid of the apparent tautology.