1 Samuel 31:2

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1-7

1-7 We cannot judge of the spiritual or eternal state of any by the manner of their death; for in that, there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked. Saul, when sorely wounded, and unable to resist or to flee, expressed no concern about his never-dying soul; but only desired that the Philistines might not insult over him, or put him to pain, and he became his own murderer. As it is the grand deceit of the devil, to persuade sinners, under great difficulties, to fly to this last act of... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - 1 Samuel 31:1-6

Death of Saul and his Sons v. 1. Now, the Philistines, whose armies had been placed in battle array in the Plain of Jezreel, 1 Samuel 29:1-Exodus :, fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, as Saul had been told, and fell down slain in Mount Gilboa, where they fled from the valley upon the attack of the Philistine forces. v. 2. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons, they pursued him with great tenacity, they hung closely at his... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

IV. Death and Burial of Saul and his Sons1 Samuel 31:1-13. [Comp. 1 Chronicles 10:0]1Now [And] the Philistines fought1 against Israel, and the men of Israel fled 2from before the Philistines and fell down slain2 in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed hard3 upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan 3and Abinadab and Melchishua,4 Saul’s sons. And the battle went sore against Saul and the archers5 hit him, and he was sore wounded [sore afraid] of 4the archers. Then said... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

1 Samuel THE END OF SELF-WILL 1Sa_31:1 - 1Sa_31:13 . The story of Saul’s tragic last days is broken in two by the account, in 1Sa_29:1 - 1Sa_29:11 and 1Sa_30:1 - 1Sa_30:31 , of David’s fortunate dismissal from the invading army, and his exploits against Amalek. The contrast between the two lives, so closely intertwined and powerful for good and evil on each other, reaches its climax at the end of Saul’s. While the one sets in dark thunderclouds, the other is bright with victory. While the... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

One Brave Deed on a Dark Day 1 Samuel 31:1-13 This defeat meant something more than a temporary reverse. It was symptomatic of national decay. Saul’s reign had brought moral degeneracy to his people. Their moral fiber was impaired, their life-blood impoverished. As king and people were weighed in the divine balances (which are ever testing us), they were found wanting. No man can sin alone! Sin becomes an epidemic! Much had happened since Saul’s designation as king. Alas, that so bright a... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

This closing chapter in the first Book of Samuel is draped in sackcloth and ashes. It gives the account of the end of the career of one of the most disastrous failures on record in Biblical history. Defeat at the hands of the Philistines drove Saul to tragic desperation. Wounded in the final fight, and fearing that the last blow might come to him by the hand of an enemy, he called upon his armor-bearer to slay him. When the armor-bearer refused to do so, Saul died by his own hand physically,... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1-7

The Death Of Saul And Jonathan On Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31:1-7 ). It is noteworthy that in the description of the battle the emphasis is not on the defeat of Israel, even though that is briefly described, but on the death of Saul and its consequences. Nevertheless even in its brevity we do get a vivid picture of the last stages of the battle as it brings about the deaths of Saul and his heirs. Analysis. a Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

The Thorough Defeat Of Israel And The Death Of Saul (1 Samuel 31:1 -2 Samuel 1:27 ). Having initially demonstrated how God’s purposes are moving forward in David, the writer now describes the humiliating defeat and death of Saul, slain by his own hand. It is the darkness before the dawn. But the dawn is clearly in mind. For the following chapters of 2 Samuel were in his eyes simply the continuation of the story. The original writer did not end on a note of anticlimax. That thought simply... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

1 Samuel 31. Battle of Gilboa.— Cf. p. 285, and 2 Samuel 1:6-Nehemiah : *. 1 Samuel 31:1-Judges : . Israel was routed, Saul’ s sons slain, and he himself in danger of being taken prisoner. To avoid this he fell upon his own sword. 3. he was greatly distressed: perhaps read, with LXX, “ he was wounded by the archers.” 1 Samuel 31:4 . and thrust me through ( second occurrence) : omit with 1 Chronicles 10:4. What Saul fears is not mutilation after death, but being taken alive, and, like Samson,... read more

Matthew Poole

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 31:2

The Philistines slew Jonathan, David’s dear friend; God so ordering it for the further exercise of David’s faith and patience; and that David might depend upon God alone for his crown, and receive it solely from him, and not from Jonathan; who doubtless, had he lived, would have speedily settled the crown upon David’s head, which would have in some sort eclipsed the glory of God’s grace and power in this work. There was also a special providence of God in taking away Jonathan, (who of all... read more

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