1 Samuel 31:4-6

4 ¹Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise ²these uncircumcised will come and pierce me through and make sport of me." But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. ³So Saul took his sword and fell on it.

5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him.

6 Thus Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men on that day together.

1 Samuel 31:4-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO FIRST SAMUEL 31

This chapter gives an account of the battle between the Philistines and the Israelites, which had been preparing for, and the issue of it; in which Saul, his three sons, and his servants, were slain, upon which his army fled, and several of his cities were taken, 1Sa 31:1-7; what the Philistines did with his body and his armour, 1Sa 31:8-10; the former of which, together with the bodies of his sons, the men of Jabeshgilead rescued, and burnt them, and buried their bones under a tree at Jabesh, expressing great sorrow and concern, 1Sa 31:11-13.

Cross References

• 1. Judges 9:54; 1 Chronicles 10:4
• 2. Judges 14:3; 1 Samuel 14:6; 1 Samuel 17:26, 36
• 3. 2 Samuel 1:6, 10