1 Samuel 31:1-13 ASV

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:3-6

The bitter end. The tragic element, so conspicuous in this history, is intense in the last scene of all. I. SAUL 'S DEATH . 1 . His despair. When the battle went against him, and the Philistines, keeping beyond reach of his long arm and terrible sword, hit him from a distance with their arrows, the king's spirit suddenly failed and died within him. "He trembled sore because of the archers." Always fitful in his moods, liable to sudden elation and sudden depression, he gave up... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:5-6

His armour bearer. The Jewish tradition says that he was Doeg the Edomite, and that the sword on which Saul fell was that with which he had massacred the priests. This is not very probable; but whoever he was, his horror on being asked to slay his master, and his devotion to him, are deserving of admiration. All his men. In 1 Chronicles 10:6 " all his house." But Ishbosheth and Abner survived, and the meaning probably is not that his whole army, but that his personal attendants, all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:7

The men of Israel. The term is here applied to non-combatants, while in 1 Samuel 31:1 it meant those following Saul in arms. On the other side of the valley. I.e . of Jezreel, and so all the Israelites inhabiting the tribes of Issachar, Zabulon, and Naphthali, and the region generally to the north. In 1 Chronicles 10:7 this flight is confined to the inhabitants of the valley, one of the most fertile districts of Palestine; but probably the statement made here, that a very large... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:7-13

The final issues of life a criterion of worth. The facts are— 1 . The defeat of Saul is followed by the general flight of the men of Israel from the neigbbouring cities, and the occupation of these by the Philistines. 2 . The bodies of Saul and of his sons being found, the Philistines strip the king's of his armour, publish the fact in the houses of idols, and dishonour him on the wall of Beth-shan. 3 . The men of Jabesh-Gilead, hearing of this, rescue the bodies and bury them... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:8

It came to pass on the morrow. The previous verse gave us the results of the victory as they were in course of time developed. We now return to the narrative of the battle and its immediate consequences. As the spoiling was deferred till the morrow, the struggle must have been obstinately contested, and decided only just before nightfall. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:9-10

They cut off his head. This was probably done not simply in retaliation for what had happened to their champion Goliath, but in accordance with the customs of ancient warfare. The fierce joy of the Philistines over the fallen Saul proves how great had been their fear of him, and how successful he had been in breaking their yoke off Israel's neck. Had he still had David with him the victory would assuredly have remained on his side. They put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth. Hebrew, "of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:11

Jabesh-Gilead. Eusebius describes this place as situated on the road from Pella to Gerasa, and therefore it would be much nearer the Jordan than Mahanaim, and probably was not more than twelve or fourteen miles distant from Beth-shan. The people there had not forgotten how bravely Saul had saved them, and now showed their gratitude by rescuing his remains from disgrace. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:12-13

They burnt them. Cremation, though highly honourable among classical nations, is here mentioned for the first time in Holy Scripture, and was probably resorted to on this occasion to insure the bodies of Saul and his sons against further maltreatment, as, if buried, the Philistines might have made the attempt to get them again into their power. Some suppose that the burning of the dead was afterwards practised by the Jews, and quote in its favour 2 Chronicles 16:14 ; Isaiah 33:12 ; ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 31:3

He was sore wounded - Better, “he was sore afraid” (compare Deuteronomy 2:25). Saul’s fear is explained in 1 Samuel 31:4. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 31:6

All his men - This and similar expressions must not be taken too literally (compare 1 Chronicles 10:6). We know that Abner, and Ish-bosheth, and manymore survived the day of Gilboa. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:3-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:5-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:7

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:7-13

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:9-10

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:11

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:12-13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 31:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 31:6

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