Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 31:3
3-5. the battle went sore against Saul, c.—He seems to have bravely maintained his ground for some time longer but exhausted with fatigue and loss of blood, and dreading that if he fell alive into the enemy's hands, they would insolently maltreat him (Joshua 8:29; Joshua 10:24; Judges 8:21), he requested his armor bearer to despatch him. However, that officer refused to do so. Saul then falling on the point of his sword killed himself; and the armor bearer, who, according to Jewish writers, was... read more
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 31:3
1 Samuel 31:3. And the archers hit him— Houbigant renders this verse thus, Then the battle going hard against Saul, the archers rushed upon him, from whom he received a great wound. Saul, says he, would hardly have commanded his armour-bearer to kill him, if he had not been in a desperate state. The words, lest they thrust me through and abuse me, are not to be separated. Saul was not so much afraid of being killed, as of being abused, by these insulting enemies. Commentators observe, that... read more