Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:6
And all his men - Probably meaning those of his troops which were his life or body guards: as to the bulk of the army, it fled at the commencement of the battle, 1 Samuel 31:1 . read more
1 Samuel 31:1-6 Nvipt
Adam Clarke
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:1-2
DEFEAT AND DEATH OF SAUL ( 1 Samuel 31:1-13 .). EXPOSITION SAUL AND HIS SONS SLAIN ( 1 Samuel 31:1-7 ). The Philistines fought. Literally it is a participle present, "the Philistines are warring," as if it were a mere resumption of 1 Samuel 28:1 . In the battle fought on the day following Saul's visit to the witch the Israelites were defeated, and fell in large numbers slain in Mount Gilboa, either because the Philistines had attacked them there, or... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:1-6
Judgment at last. The facts are— 1 . In the battle at Gilboa the men of Israel suffer a defeat from the Philistines. 2 . His sons being slain, the conflict presses hard on Saul. 3 . Dreading to fall by the hand of a Philistine, and failing to find death through the hand of his armour bearer, he falls on his own sword, his example being followed by his armour bearer. Here we have the closing scene in the tragedy of Saul's life, verifying the prediction of Samuel. Our heart... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:3-4
The archers. Literally, as in the margin, "shooters, men with bows." As the first word would equally apply to men who threw javelins, the explanation is added to make the meaning clear. Hit him. Literally, "found him, i.e. found out his position, and came up to where he was. He was sore wounded. Rather, "he was sore distressed." In Deuteronomy 2:25 the verb is rendered "be in anguish." The meaning is that Saul, finding himself surrounded by these archers, and that he could neither... read more
Spence, H. D. M., etc.
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
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
Joseph Benson
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 31:1
1 Samuel 31:1. Now the Philistines fought against Israel That is, gave them battle. As they began the quarrel, (1 Samuel 29:1,) so they seem to have begun the fight. It must be observed that the foregoing chapter is a digression, to relate what happened to David at this time. The sacred writer now resumes the thread of the narrative in regard to Saul, relating what befell him upon his return from Endor. And it seems he was scarce returned before the Philistines attacked his camp, and, after... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 31:4
Draw thy sword , and thrust me through - Dr. Delaney has some good observations on this part of the subject: "Saul and his armor-bearer died by the same sword. That his armor-bearer died by his own sword is out of all doubt; the text expressly tells us so; and that Saul perished by the same sword is sufficiently evident. Draw Thy sword, says he to him, and thrust me through; which, when he refused, Saul, says the text, took The sword, ( החרב את eth hachereb , the very sword),... read more