1 Samuel 31:1-13 ASV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:9

And they cut off his head ,.... And fastened it in the temple of Dagon, 1 Chronicles 10:10 ; perhaps that which was at Ashdod, one of the principalities of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 5:1 , and stripped off his armour ; or vessels F8 את כליו "vasa ejus", Munster, Montanus. , his clothes as well as his armour, and what he had about him; as for his crown on his head, and the bracelet on his arm, the Amalekite took them before the Philistines came, 2 Samuel 1:10 , and sent... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:10

And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth ,.... A temple dedicated to their deities, called by this name; of which See Gill on Judges 2:13 ; Nothing was more common with the Gentiles than to place in their temples the arms they took from their enemies, as is strongly expressed by Homer F9 τευχεα συλησας , Iliad. 7. ver. 83. and Virgil F11 "Multaque praeterea sacris in postibus arma", &c.; Aeneid. 7. ver. 183. So Persius, Satyr. 6. ver. 45. ; and indeed the Jews... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:11

And the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead ,.... Who lived on the other side Jordan, about eight miles from Bethshan, according to Fuller F16 Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, b. 2. ch. 2. p. 82. : heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul ; not only that they had got the victory over him, and routed his army, but had abused his body, and hung it up by way of reproach and ignominy; which they could not bear to hear of, remembering with gratitude the kindness he had shown to them, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:12

All the valiant men arose ,.... Of the city of Jabeshgilead, fired with indignation at the Philistines' ill usage of Saul and the bodies of his sons: and went all night ; not only for secrecy, but for haste: and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh ; brought them with them thither, the Philistines either having no knowledge of it, or not daring to oppose them: and burnt them there : that is, the flesh of them, for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:13

And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh ,.... For though they burned the bodies, yet so as to preserve the bones; and these, together with the ashes of the parts burnt, they gathered up, and buried under a tree near this city; this tree is said to be an oak, 1 Chronicles 10:12 ; so Deborah, the nurse of Rebekah, was buried under an oak, Genesis 35:8 . The Jews generally interred their dead under some oak, as aforementioned writer observes F17 Pisgah-Sight... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1

Now the Philistines fought - This is the continuation of the account given in 1 Samuel 29:1-11 . The men of Israel fled - It seems as if they were thrown into confusion at the first onset, and turned their backs upon their enemies. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:2

Followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons - They, seeing the discomfiture of their troops, were determined to sell their lives as dear as possible, and therefore maintained the battle till the three brothers were slain. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:3

He was sore wounded of the archers - It is likely that Saul's sons were slain by the archers, and that Saul was now mortally wounded by the same. Houbigant translates, The archers rushed upon him, from whom he received a grievous wound. He farther remarks that had not Saul been grievously wounded, and beyond hope of recovery, he would not have wished his armor-bearer to despatch him; as he might have continued still to fight, or have made his escape from this most disastrous... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:4

Draw thy sword , and thrust me through - Dr. Delaney has some good observations on this part of the subject: "Saul and his armor-bearer died by the same sword. That his armor-bearer died by his own sword is out of all doubt; the text expressly tells us so; and that Saul perished by the same sword is sufficiently evident. Draw Thy sword, says he to him, and thrust me through; which, when he refused, Saul, says the text, took The sword, ( החרב את eth hachereb , the very sword),... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:6

And all his men - Probably meaning those of his troops which were his life or body guards: as to the bulk of the army, it fled at the commencement of the battle, 1 Samuel 31:1 . read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:6

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