Shmuel Alef 31

1 1 Now the Pelishtim fought against Yisroel; and the anshei Yisroel fled from before the Pelishtim, and fell down chalalim (slain ones) on Mt Gilboa.

2 And the Pelishtim followed hard upon Sha’ul and upon his banim; and the Pelishtim slaughtered Yehonatan [Yonatan], and Avinadav, and Malki Shua, the Bnei Sha’ul.

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.

8 And it came to pass on the next day, when the Pelishtim came to strip the chalalim, that they found Sha’ul and his shloshet banim fallen on Mt Gilboa.

9 And they cut off his rosh (head), and stripped off his keli, and sent through eretz Pelishtim all around, to publish it in the bais atzabim, and among the people.

10 And they put his keli in the Bais Ashtarot; and they hung up his body on the chomat Beit Shan.

11 And when the inhabitants of Yavesh Gilead heard of that which the Pelishtim had done to Sha’ul;

12 kol ish chayil arose, and went kol halailah, and took the geviyyat Sha’ul and the geviyyot of his banim from the chomat Beit Shan, and came to Yavesh, and cremated them there.

13 And they took their atzmot, and buried them under a tree at Yavesh, and underwent a tzom shivat yamim.

Shmuel Alef 31 Commentary

Chapter 31

Saul's defeat and death. (1-7) Saul's body rescued by the men of Jabesh-gilead. (8-13)

Verses 1-7 We cannot judge of the spiritual or eternal state of any by the manner of their death; for in that, there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked. Saul, when sorely wounded, and unable to resist or to flee, expressed no concern about his never-dying soul; but only desired that the Philistines might not insult over him, or put him to pain, and he became his own murderer. As it is the grand deceit of the devil, to persuade sinners, under great difficulties, to fly to this last act of desperation, it is well to fortify the mind against it, by a serious consideration of its sinfulness before God, and its miserable consequences in society. But our security is not in ourselves. Let us seek protection from Him who keepeth Israel. Let us watch and pray; and take unto us the whole armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Verses 8-13 The Scripture makes no mention what became of the souls of Saul and his sons, after they were dead; but of their bodies only: secret things belong not to us. It is of little consequence by what means we die, or what is done with our dead bodies. If our souls are saved, our bodies will be raised incorruptible and glorious; but not to fear His wrath, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell, is the extreme of folly and wickedness. How useless is the respect of fellow-creatures to those who are suffering the wrath of God! While pompous funerals, grand monuments, and he praises of men, honour the memory of the deceased, the soul may be suffering in the regions of darkness and despair! Let us seek that honour which cometh from God only.

Chapter Summary

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.