Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Samuel 1:21

"Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil." — 2 Samuel 1:21 (ASV)

Nor fields of offerings. —This somewhat obscure expression seems to mean, “Let there not be upon you those fruitful fields from which may be gathered the offerings of first-fruits.” Of course, this malediction upon the mountains of Gilboa is to be understood as it was meant, only in a poetical sense.

Vilely cast away. —Another sense of this word is defiled. The ancient versions, as well as modern commentators, adopt one meaning, and some the other, either of which is appropriate.

As though he had not been anointed. —This translation follows the Vulgate and makes good sense, meaning “as though Saul had not been a king”; but it is more than doubtful whether the original can bear this construction. There is no pronoun in the Hebrew, and the word “anointed” refers to the shield: “the shield of Saul not anointed with oil.” It was customary to oil metal shields, as well as those of wood and leather, for their preservation, and the idea here is that Saul’s shield was thrown away uncared for.