1 Samuel 31

1 Samuel 31:1

J^ND the Philistines fought against Israel. i. e. Gave them battle: and as they began the quarrel, (xxix.l.)- so they seem to have begun the fight. And the 7nen of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in Mount Gilboa.]‘They fled thither from the valley of Jezrcel, and were there slain in great numbers.

1 Samuel 31:2

And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons. Who were the leaders of the army: which the Philistines thought would never rally again, if they were slain or taken. And the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchi-shua, Saul’s sons.] It seems Ish-bosheth was not there, being no warlike man; or he escaped out of the battle by flight, as Abner and other great men did: or perhaps he was left at home to manage domestic affairs. Jonathan seems to have deserved a better fate: but the providence of God suffered him to be slain, that David might more easily come to the throne. • For though he had freely consented to it, yet he was such a favourite* of the people, that many of them might have stickled for him.

1 Samuel 31:3

And Alie battle went sore against Saul. They pursued him so close, that there was no hope he could escape. And the archers hit him; and he was sorely wounded of the archers.] In the Hebrew the words are, the archers foundhim: which signifies, in that language, to rush upon one on a sudden. Bows and arrows were the principal weapons of this nation; in the use of which they were very dexterous, and did terrible execution. Which is the reason, some think, that David, when lie came to the throne, taught the Israelites the use of the bow, (as we read in the next book, chap. i. ver. 18.) that they might not be inferior to the Philistines, nor fall into the like disaster that Saul had done. And when he had made peace with the Philistines, he took some of their archers, with whom he was well acquainted, to be the keepers of his body: which are those so often mentioned in the following books, under the name of Cherethites, 2 Sam. viii. 18. xy. 18. xx. 7. 1 Kings i.38.44. 1 Chron. xviii. 17. in all which places, where the Hebrew hath the word cerethi, the Chaldee paraphrast interprets it archers. (See Bochartus, in his Canaan, lib. i. cap. 15. p. 459.)

1 Samuel 31:4

Then said Saul unto his armour-bearer, Draw thy vword, and thrust me through therewith. For though he had received many wounds, yet they were not mortal; at least, not for the present* Lest these uncirewncised come and thrust me through, and abuse me.] Ho was afraid they might put him to some ignominious death, or make sport with him, as they did with Samson. But his armour-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid.] Dreaded to think of killing his king. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it,] And killed himself, as appears by the next words.

1 Samuel 31:5

And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul teas dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. Some of the Jews think this was Doegr.,

1 Samuel 31:6

So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armolir-