1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Samuel 31:5 NLT

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Samuel 31:1-6

The battle of Mt Gilboa 31:1-6God had announced that Saul would deliver His people from the hand of the Philistines (1 Samuel 9:16). However, Saul frustrated God’s purpose by not following the Lord faithfully. Consequently the Philistines got the better of Saul and his soldiers (cf. Joshua 1:7-9). This battle took place in 1011 B.C., the last year of Saul’s reign. Three other important battles took place nearby in the Jezreel Valley: Deborah and Barak’s defeat of Sisera (Judges 4:15; Judges... read more

Thomas Constable

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

The death of Saul ch. 31The scene shifts back to Mt. Gilboa in the North and Saul. Saul’s battle with the Philistines in this chapter may have been simultaneous with David’s battle against the Amalekites in the previous one."Chapters 30 and 31 gain in poignancy and power if we regard their events as simultaneous. In the far south, David is anxious about his own and about spoil, while in the far north Saul and the Israelite army perish. . . . While David smites (hikkah) [’fought,’ 1 Samuel... 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 31:4

(4) His armourbearer.—Jewish tradition tells us that this faithful armourbearer was Doeg, the Edomite, and that the sword which Saul took apparently from the hand of the armourbearer was the sword with which Doeg had massacred the priests at Gibeon and at Nob.Lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me.—“Even in Saul’s dying speech there is something of that religious formalism which marked his character after his fall from God, and which is a striking sign of spiritual blindness. He censures... 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

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 Samuel 31:4

31:4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, {a} Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.(a) So we see that his cruel life has a desperate end, as is commonly seen in those who persecute the children of God. 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