1 Samuel 31:5

5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword and died with him.

1 Samuel 31:5 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 31:5

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, that the murderers of Julius Caesar slew themselves with the same dagger they destroyed him.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Sucton. Vit. Caesar. c. 89.

1 Samuel 31:5 In-Context

3 And the battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was sore afraid of the archers.

4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword and thrust me through with it lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not, for he was sore afraid. Therefore, Saul took his sword and fell upon it.

5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword and died with him.

6 So Saul died and his three sons and his armourbearer and all his men that same day together.

7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley and those that were on the other side of the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.