Shmuel Alef 31:5

5 And when his noseh keli saw that Sha’ul was dead, he fell likewise upon his cherev, and died with him.

Shmuel Alef 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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F4 Sucton. Vit. Caesar. c. 89.

Shmuel Alef 31:5 In-Context

3 And the milchamah became intense against Sha’ul, and the archers overtook him; and he was mortally wounded by the archers.

4 Then said Sha’ul unto his noseh keli (armor bearer), Draw thy cherev, and thrust me through therewith; lest these arelim (uncircumcised ones) come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his noseh keli would not; for he was very afraid. Therefore Sha’ul took a cherev, and fell upon it.

5 And when his noseh keli saw that Sha’ul was dead, he fell likewise upon his cherev, and died with him.

6 So Sha’ul died, and his shloshet banim, and his noseh keli, and kol anashim of him, that same day together.

7 And when the anshei Yisroel that were on the other side of the emek (valley), and they that were on the other side of the Yarden, saw that the anshei Yisroel fled, and that Sha’ul and his banim were dead, they abandoned the towns, and fled; and the Pelishtim came and took occupation of them.