Now the Philistines fought against Israel ,.... Being come to Jezreel where Israel pitched, 1 Samuel 29:1 ; they fell upon them, began the battle: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines ; at the first onset, as it should seem: and fell down slain in Mount Gilboa ; which was near, and whither fleeing they were pursued and slain, at least great numbers of them. read more
And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul ,.... Stuck to him, pushed him close, bore hard upon him in that part of the army where he was having a design upon his person: and upon his sons ; who were with him: and the Philistines slew Jonathan ; who is mentioned first, being the eldest son, and perhaps first slain; and this was so ordered by the providence of God, that David's way to the throne might be more clear and easy; for though Jonathan would not have opposed him himself, yet... read more
And the battle went sore against Saul ,.... Pressed heavy upon him; he was the butt of the Philistines, they aimed at his person and life: and the archers hit him ; or "found him" F1 וימצאהו "et inveserust cum", Pagninus, Montanus. ; the place where was, and directed their arrows at him: and he was sore wounded of the archers ; or rather "he was afraid" of them, as the Targum, for as yet he was not wounded; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, and is the sense... read more
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer ,.... Who, the Jews F2 Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Reg. fol. 77. B. say, was Doeg the Edomite, promoted to this office for slaying the priests: draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith ; for if he was wounded, yet not mortally, and it is certain he did not so apprehend it. It is much the sword of the armourbearer should be sheathed in a battle; but perhaps he was preparing for flight, and so had put it up in its scabbard: lest these... read more
And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead ,.... By his own hands, and not by the hands of the Amalekite, which the armour bearer would scarcely have suffered: he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him ; some think that Saul, and his armourbearer, died by the same sword, which was the armourbearer's; and if he was Doeg, they fell probably by the same sword with which the priests of the Lord were murdered at Nob, 1 Samuel 22:18 ; and it is observed by an historian F4 ... read more
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer ,.... Only with this difference, his three sons died honourably in the field of battle, but he and his armourbearer destroyed themselves. Josephus says F5 Antiqu. l. 6. c. 14. sect. 9. he reigned eighteen years in the life of Samuel, and after his death twenty two years, which make the forty years the apostle ascribes to him, Acts 13:21 ; Eupolemus F6 Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 3. p. 447. , an Heathen writer,... read more
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
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
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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:1-7
The day of recompence has now come, in which Saul must account for the blood of the Amalekites which he had sinfully spared, and that of the priests which he had more sinfully spilt; that of David too, which he would have spilt, must come into the account. Now his day has come to fall, as David foresaw, when he should descend into battle and perish, 1 Sam. 26:10. Come and see the righteous judgments of God. I. He sees his soldiers fall about him, 1 Sam. 31:1. Whether the Philistines were more... read more