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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:1 - 31:6
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Death of Saul and his Sons
v. 1. Now, the Philistines, whose armies had been placed in battle array in the Plain of Jezreel, 1Sa_29:1-2, 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 feet, they strove to overtake him; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons, 1Sa_14:49.
v. 3. And the battle went sore against Saul, literally, "toward" him, for the whole weight of the battle turned in his direction, and the archers hit him, striking him from all sides with arrows; and he was sore wounded of the archers, rather, he was much frightened, for he saw no way of escaping the enemy's superior forces, since the battle had apparently resolved itself into individual combats on the part of Israel.
v. 4. Then said Saul unto his armor-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised, the Philistines, come and thrust me through, and abuse me, torture him cruelly before putting him to death. But his armor-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid, he was responsible for the king's life and felt too much awe for his person. Therefore Saul took a sword, and, turning the point toward his own body, fell upon it, committed suicide.
v. 5. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword and died with him.
v. 6. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, those of his immediate neighborhood, his body-guard, that same day together. That was the end of the man who had once had the Spirit of God and had been filled with power from above. Those who forsake the Lord are truly forsaken, and therefore in the end have no comfort, no help in the hour of death, but go their way into eternal destruction.