1 Samuel 31:4-5

4 ¹Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these ²uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, ³for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword ⁴and fell upon it.

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

1 Samuel 31:4-5 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]
• 2. See Judges 14:3
• 3. [2 Samuel 1:14]
• 4. [2 Samuel 1:10]