And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
The women came out of all cities of Israel - in the homeward march from the pursuit of the Philistines.
With instruments of music, х uwbshaalishiym (H7991); Septuagint, en kumbalois] - with cymbals. These were metallic instruments of percussion. They were in form somewhat like a cup, and on the outside of the hollow part was a strap, through which the player who held them struck one against the other with greater or less violence, as the music or the occasion called for (Psalms 150:5). In the open air their sound produced a martial effect. This is a characteristic trait of Oriental manners. On the return of friends long absent, and particularly on the return of a victorious army, bands of women and children issue from the towns and villages, to form a triumphal procession to celebrate the victory, and as they go along, gratify the soldiers with dancing, instrumental music, and extempore songs, in honour of the generals who have earned the highest distinction by feats of gallantry. They formed themselves into two choirs, which sung in alternate or responsive strophes. The chorus was:
"Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands."
(See the note at Exodus 15:20: cf. Psalms 68:11-12.) The Hebrew women, therefore, were merely paying the customary congratulations to David as the deliverer of their country; but they committed a great indiscretion by praising a subject at the expense of their sovereign.