1 Samuel 31:9-10 KJV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:8-13

The scripture makes no mention of the souls of Saul and his sons, what became of them after they were dead (secret things belong not to us), but of their bodies only. I. How they were basely abused by the Philistines. The day after the battle, when they had recovered their fatigue, they came to strip the slain, and, among the rest, found the bodies of Saul and his three sons, 1 Sam. 31:8. Saul's armour-bearer perhaps intended to honour his master by following the example of his self-murder,... read more

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:9

And they cut off his head - It is possible that they cut off the heads of his three sons likewise; for although only his head is said to be cut off, and his body only to be fastened to the walls of Beth-shan, yet we find that the men of Jabesh-gilead found both his body and the bodies of his three sons, fastened to the walls, 1 Samuel 31:12 . Perhaps they only took off Saul's head, which they sent about to their temples as a trophy of their victory, when they sent the news of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:10

They put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth - As David had done in placing the sword of Goliath in the tabernacle. We have already seen that it was common for the conquerors to consecrate armor and spoils taken in war, to those who were the objects of religious worship. They fastened his body to the wall - Probably by means of iron hooks; but it is said, 2 Samuel 21:12 , that these bodies were fastened in the Street of Beth-shan. This may mean that the... 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 31:9-10

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 31:10

In the house of Ashtaroth - This was doubtless the famous temple of Venus in Askelon mentioned by Herodotus as the most ancient of all her temples. Hence, the special mention of Askelon 2 Samuel 1:20. The placing Saul’s armour as a trophy in the temple of Ashtaroth was a counterpart to the placing Goliath’s sword in the tabernacle 1 Samuel 21:9. In 1 Chronicles 10:10 it is added that they “fastened Saul’s head in the temple of Dagon,” probably either in Gaza Judges 16:21, or in Ashdod 1 Samuel... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 31:7-10

1 Samuel 31:7-10. They on the other side Jordan Or, rather, on this side Jordan; for the Hebrew word signifies either side. And there was no occasion for those beyond Jordan to flee. Saul and his three sons “The Scripture,” as Mr. Henry well observes, “makes no mention of the souls of Saul and his sons, what became of them after they were dead; secret things belong not to us.” They cut off his head As the Israelites did by Goliath, and fastened it in the temple of Dagon, 1 Chronicles... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:1-13

David’s victory and Saul’s defeat (30:1-31:13)When David’s men returned to Ziklag, they found it a deserted, burnt out ruin. The Amalekites had raided the cities of Philistia and Judah while all the fighting men were away at war. The shock of losing everything - wives, families and possessions - drove David to total dependence on God. It was the kind of dependence that seems to have been lacking during his sixteen months in Philistia (30:1-8).Assisted by some capable Israelite military... read more