撒母耳记上 31:8 CUNPSS

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 31:7-13

The aftermath of the battle 31:7-13The other Israelite soldiers retreated when they heard that Saul and his sons had died. This left towns in the region open for Philistine seizure. Instead of driving the native inhabitants out of the land, Saul had made it possible for them to drive the Israelites out and to reestablish themselves in Galilee (cf. Joshua 1:2-9).The Philistines cut off Saul’s head, as David had earlier cut off the head of Goliath, the Philistine champion (1 Samuel 17:51). They... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

Defeat of the Israelites at Mt. Gilboa. Death of Saul6. And all his men] LXX omits. 7. The valley] of Jezreel. 10. The house of Ashtaroth] at Askelon: cp. 2 Samuel 1:20.Bethshan] between the Gilboa and little Hermon ranges. 11. They thus showed their gratitude for former kindness: see 1 Samuel 11.12. Burnt them] The action of the men of Jabesh was probably due to their fear that the Philistines would remove the bodies.13. Under a tree] RV ’under the tamarisk tree.’ It was evidently some... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Samuel 31:8

(8) They found Saul and his three sons fallen in Mount Gilboa.—It is expressly stated that the Philistines only found the royal corpses on the morrow of the great fight. So desperate had been the valour with which the King and his gallant sons had defended their last positions on the hill, that night had fallen ere the din of battle ceased. Nor were the enemy aware of the completeness of their success until the morning dawn revealed to the soldiers as they went over the scene, the great ones... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

The Death of Israel's First King 1 Samuel 31:0 Saul's death was neither more nor less than suicide; the death of all deaths the most loathsome and despised of men: of all deaths the only one that men call cowardly. It was a great historical event, meaning much to the nation which saw its first king thus sadly fall. It was the end of Saul's kingdom: his sons and all his family, and with them, all his hopes, died with him that night on Mount Gilboa. And it is still a conspicuous moral, as well... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

CHAPTER XXXVITHE DEATH OF SAUL.1 Samuel 31:1-13.THE plain of Esdraelon, where the battle between Saul and the Philistines was fought, has been celebrated for many a deadly encounter, from the very earliest period of history. Monuments of Egypt lately deciphered make it very plain that long before the country was possessed by the Israelites the plain had experienced the shock of contending armies. The records of the reign of Thotmes III, who has sometimes been called the Alexander the Great of... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

9. The Death of Saul CHAPTER 31 1. Saul wounded in battle (1 Samuel 31:1-3 ) 2. Saul a suicide (1 Samuel 31:4-6 ) 3. The victorious Philistines (1 Samuel 31:7-10 ) 4. The bodies recovered and burnt (1 Samuel 31:11-13 ) A sad ending to one of the saddest stories of the Bible. Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchi-shua, Saul’s sons, fall first. Then Saul is wounded. He asks his armour bearer to make an end of his sufferings. There is no evidence whatever of his repentance and turning unto the... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

The day has come for Saul to descend into battle and die. The Philistines fight against Israel and find no resistance. We know that Saul was totally demoralized and could only expect that his armies would share the same hopeless fear. Israel fled before the enemy and the Philistines were able to slaughter them indiscriminately. In pursuing Israel (v.2) they killed three of Saul's sons (ch.14:49), as Samuel had foretold (ch.28:19). Ishbosheth was a son not mentioned before. Likely he was a... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

SAUL ’S CAREER ENDED CALAMITY FORETOLD (1 Samuel 28:0 ) This chapter is important and illustrates again the deceptive character of Saul. Having professedly put the necromancers out of Israel in obedience to the divine command (Leviticus 19:31 ; Leviticus 20:27 ; Deuteronomy 18:10-11 ), he no sooner finds himself in straits than he seeks out one of them for his aid. Two questions arise. Did Samuel really come forth from the dead, and was it the woman’s power that brought him forth? To the... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:8-10

(8) ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. (9) And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. (10) And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. No doubt, so complete a victory, and so great a triumph... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:8-13

8-13 The Scripture makes no mention what became of the souls of Saul and his sons, after they were dead; but of their bodies only: secret things belong not to us. It is of little consequence by what means we die, or what is done with our dead bodies. If our souls are saved, our bodies will be raised incorruptible and glorious; but not to fear His wrath, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell, is the extreme of folly and wickedness. How useless is the respect of fellow-creatures to... read more