1 Samuel 31:1

Saul dies in the battle of Gilboa

1 When the Philistines attacked the Israelites, the Israelites ran away from the Philistines, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.

1 Samuel 31:1 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 31:1

Now the Philistines fought against Israel
Being come to Jezreel where Israel pitched, ( 1 Samuel 29:1 1 Samuel 29:11 ) ; they fell upon them, began the battle:

and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines;
at the first onset, as it should seem:

and fell down slain in Mount Gilboa;
which was near, and whither fleeing they were pursued and slain, at least great numbers of them.

1 Samuel 31:1 In-Context

1 When the Philistines attacked the Israelites, the Israelites ran away from the Philistines, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.

2 The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.

3 The battle was fierce around Saul. When the archers located him, they wounded him badly.

4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me with it! Otherwise, these uncircumcised men will come and kill me or torture me." But his armor-bearer refused because he was terrified. So Saul took the sword and impaled himself on it.

5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also impaled himself on his sword and died with Saul.