1 Samuel 31:1

The Death of Saul

1 ¹Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain ²on 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 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.

3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.

4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me. ” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.

5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.

Cross References

• 1. 31:1 For ver. 1-13, see 1 Chr. 10:1-12
• 2. 31:1 ch. 28:4; [2 Sam. 1:6, 21; 21:12]