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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 31:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
1Sa 31:1	Strong Concordance	Now the Philistines [06430] fought [03898] against Israel [03478]: and the men [0582] of Israel [03478] fled [05127] from before [06440] the Philistines [06430], and fell down [05307] slain [02491] in mount [02022] Gilboa [01533].
	King James	Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
SAUL HAVING LOST HIS ARMY AT GILBOA, AND HIS SONS BEING SLAIN, HE AND HIS ARMOR-BEARER KILL THEMSELVES. (Sa1 31:1-7) Now the Philistines fought against Israel--In a regular engagement, in which the two armies met (Sa1 28:1-4), the Israelites were forced to give way, being annoyed by the arrows of the enemy, which, destroying them at a distance before they came to close combat, threw them into panic and disorder. Taking advantage of the heights of Mount Gilboa, [the Israelites] attempted to rally, but in vain. Saul and his sons fought like heroes; but the onset of the Philistines being at length mainly directed against the quarter where they were, Jonathan and two brothers, Abinadab or Ishui (Sa1 14:49) and Melchishua, overpowered by numbers, were killed on the spot.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

SAUL HAVING LOST HIS ARMY AT GILBOA, AND HIS SONS BEING SLAIN, HE AND HIS ARMOR-BEARER KILL THEMSELVES. (Sa1 31:1-7)

Now the Philistines fought against Israel--In a regular engagement, in which the two armies met (Sa1 28:1-4), the Israelites were forced to give way, being annoyed by the arrows of the enemy, which, destroying them at a distance before they came to close combat, threw them into panic and disorder. Taking advantage of the heights of Mount Gilboa, [the Israelites] attempted to rally, but in vain. Saul and his sons fought like heroes; but the onset of the Philistines being at length mainly directed against the quarter where they were, Jonathan and two brothers, Abinadab or Ishui (Sa1 14:49) and Melchishua, overpowered by numbers, were killed on the spot.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The account of the war between the Philistines and Israel, the commencement of which has already been mentioned in Sa1 28:1, Sa1 28:4., and Sa1 29:1, is resumed in Sa1 31:1 in a circumstantial clause; and to this there is attached a description of the progress and result of the battle, more especially with reference to Saul. Consequently, in Ch1 10:1, where there had been no previous allusion to the war, the participle נלחמים is changed into the perfect. The following is the way in which we should express the circumstantial clause: "Now when the Philistines were fighting against Israel, the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and slain men fell in the mountains of Gilboa" (vid., Sa1 28:4). The principal engagement took place in the plain of Jezreel. But when the Israelites were obliged to yield, they fled up the mountains of Gilboa, and were pursued and slain there. Sa1 31:2-6 The Philistines followed Saul, smote (i.e., put to death) his three sons (see at Sa1 14:49), and fought fiercely against Saul himself. When the archers (בּקּשׁת אנשׁים is an explanatory apposition to המּורים) hit him, i.e., overtook him, he was greatly alarmed at them (יחל, from חיל or חוּל), (Note: The lxx have adopted the rendering καὶ ἐτραυμάτισαν εἰς τὰ ὑποχόνδρια, they wounded him in the abdomen, whilst the Vulgate rendering is vulneratus est vehementer a sagittariis. In Ch1 10:3 the Sept. rendering is καὶ ἐπόνεσεν ἀπὸ τῶν τόξων, and that of the Vulgate et vulneraverunt jaculis. The translators have therefore derived יחל from חלל = חלה, and then given a free rendering to the other words. But this rendering is overthrown by the word מאד, very, vehemently, to say nothing of the fact that the verb חלל or חלה cannot be proved to be ever used in the sense of wounding. If Saul had been so severely wounded that he could not kill himself, and therefore asked his armour-bearer to slay him, as Thenius supposes, he would not have had the strength to pierce himself with his sword when the armour-bearer refused. The further conjecture of Thenius, that the Hebrew text should be read thus, in accordance with the lxx, המּררים אל ויּחל, "he was wounded in the region of the gall," is opposed by the circumstance that ὑποχόνδρια is not the gall or region of the gall, but what is under the χόνδρος, or breast cartilage, viz., the abdomen and bowels.) and called upon his armour-bearer to pierce him with the sword, "lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and play with me," i.e., cool their courage upon me by maltreating me. But as the armour-bearer would not do this, because he was very much afraid, since he was supposed to be answerable for the king's life, Saul inflicted death upon himself with his sword; whereupon the armour-bearer also fell upon his sword and died with his king, so that on that day Saul and this three sons and his armour-bearer all died; also "all his men" (for which we have "all his house" in the Chronicles), i.e., not all the warriors who went out with him to battle, but all the king's servants, or all the members of his house, sc., who had taken part in the battle. Neither Abner nor his son Ishbosheth was included, for the latter was not in the battle; and although the former was Saul's cousin and commander-in-chief (see Sa1 14:50-51), he did not belong to his house or servants. Sa1 31:7 When the men of Israel upon the sides that were opposite to the valley (Jezreel) and the Jordan saw that the Israelites (the Israelitish troop) fled, and Saul and his sons were dead, they took to flight out of the cities, whereupon the Philistines took possession of them. עבר is used here to signify the side opposite to the place of conflict in the valley of Jezreel, which the writer assumed as his standpoint (cf. Sa1 14:40); so that העמק עבר is the country to the west of the valley of Jezreel, and היּרדּן עבר the country to the west of the Jordan, i.e., between Gilboa and the Jordan. These districts, i.e., the whole of the country round about the valley of Jezreel, the Philistines took possession of, so that the whole of the northern part of the land of Israel, in other words the whole land with the exception of Peraea and the tribe-land of Judah, came into their hands when Saul was slain.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The account of the war between the Philistines and Israel, the commencement of which has already been mentioned in Sa1 28:1, Sa1 28:4., and Sa1 29:1, is resumed in Sa1 31:1 in a circumstantial clause; and to this there is attached a description of the progress and result of the battle, more especially with reference to Saul. Consequently, in Ch1 10:1, where there had been no previous allusion to the war, the participle נלחמים is changed into the perfect. The following is the way in which we should express the circumstantial clause: "Now when the Philistines were fighting against Israel, the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and slain men fell in the mountains of Gilboa" (vid., Sa1 28:4). The principal engagement took place in the plain of Jezreel. But when the Israelites were obliged to yield, they fled up the mountains of Gilboa, and were pursued and slain there.

Sa1 31:2-6

The Philistines followed Saul, smote (i.e., put to death) his three sons (see at Sa1 14:49), and fought fiercely against Saul himself. When the archers (בּקּשׁת אנשׁים is an explanatory apposition to המּורים) hit him, i.e., overtook him, he was greatly alarmed at them (יחל, from חיל or חוּל),

(Note: The lxx have adopted the rendering καὶ ἐτραυμάτισαν εἰς τὰ ὑποχόνδρια, they wounded him in the abdomen, whilst the Vulgate rendering is vulneratus est vehementer a sagittariis. In Ch1 10:3 the Sept. rendering is καὶ ἐπόνεσεν ἀπὸ τῶν τόξων, and that of the Vulgate et vulneraverunt jaculis. The translators have therefore derived יחל from חלל = חלה, and then given a free rendering to the other words. But this rendering is overthrown by the word מאד, very, vehemently, to say nothing of the fact that the verb חלל or חלה cannot be proved to be ever used in the sense of wounding. If Saul had been so severely wounded that he could not kill himself, and therefore asked his armour-bearer to slay him, as Thenius supposes, he would not have had the strength to pierce himself with his sword when the armour-bearer refused. The further conjecture of Thenius, that the Hebrew text should be read thus, in accordance with the lxx, המּררים אל ויּחל, "he was wounded in the region of the gall," is opposed by the circumstance that ὑποχόνδρια is not the gall or region of the gall, but what is under the χόνδρος, or breast cartilage, viz., the abdomen and bowels.)

and called upon his armour-bearer to pierce him with the sword, "lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and play with me," i.e., cool their courage upon me by maltreating me. But as the armour-bearer would not do this, because he was very much afraid, since he was supposed to be answerable for the king's life, Saul inflicted death upon himself with his sword; whereupon the armour-bearer also fell upon his sword and died with his king, so that on that day Saul and this three sons and his armour-bearer all died; also "all his men" (for which we have "all his house" in the Chronicles), i.e., not all the warriors who went out with him to battle, but all the king's servants, or all the members of his house, sc., who had taken part in the battle. Neither Abner nor his son Ishbosheth was included, for the latter was not in the battle; and although the former was Saul's cousin and commander-in-chief (see Sa1 14:50-51), he did not belong to his house or servants.

Sa1 31:7

When the men of Israel upon the sides that were opposite to the valley (Jezreel) and the Jordan saw that the Israelites (the Israelitish troop) fled, and Saul and his sons were dead, they took to flight out of the cities, whereupon the Philistines took possession of them. עבר is used here to signify the side opposite to the place of conflict in the valley of Jezreel, which the writer assumed as his standpoint (cf. Sa1 14:40); so that העמק עבר is the country to the west of the valley of Jezreel, and היּרדּן עבר the country to the west of the Jordan, i.e., between Gilboa and the Jordan. These districts, i.e., the whole of the country round about the valley of Jezreel, the Philistines took possession of, so that the whole of the northern part of the land of Israel, in other words the whole land with the exception of Peraea and the tribe-land of Judah, came into their hands when Saul was slain.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Now the Philistines fought - This is the continuation of the account given in Sa1 29:1-11. The men of Israel fled - It seems as if they were thrown into confusion at the first onset, and turned their backs upon their enemies.

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⁴⁹ Now the sons [01121] of Saul [07586] were Jonathan [03129], and Ishui [03440], and Melchishua [04444]: and the names [08034] of his two [08147] daughters [01323] were these; the name [08034] of the firstborn [01067] Merab [04764], and the name [08034] of the younger [06996] Michal [04324]:

¹ And it came to pass in those days [03117], that the Philistines [06430] gathered [06908] their armies [04264] together [06908] for warfare [06635], to fight [03898] with Israel [03478]. And Achish [0397] said [0559] unto David [01732], Know [03045] thou assuredly [03045], that thou shalt go out [03318] with me to battle [04264], thou and thy men [0582].
² And David [01732] said [0559] to Achish [0397], Surely [03651] thou shalt know [03045] what thy servant [05650] can do [06213]. And Achish [0397] said [0559] to David [01732], Therefore will I make [07760] thee keeper [08104] of mine head [07218] for ever [03117].
³ Now Samuel [08050] was dead [04191], and all Israel [03478] had lamented [05594] him, and buried [06912] him in Ramah [07414], even in his own city [05892]. And Saul [07586] had put away [05493] those that had familiar spirits [0178], and the wizards [03049], out of the land [0776].
⁴ And the Philistines [06430] gathered themselves together [06908], and came [0935] and pitched [02583] in Shunem [07766]: and Saul [07586] gathered [06908] all Israel [03478] together [06908], and they pitched [02583] in Gilboa [01533].

¹ Now the Philistines [06430] fought [03898] against Israel [03478]: and the men [0582] of Israel [03478] fled [05127] from before [06440] the Philistines [06430], and fell down [05307] slain [02491] in mount [02022] Gilboa [01533].
² And the Philistines [06430] followed hard [01692] upon Saul [07586] and upon his sons [01121]; and the Philistines [06430] slew [05221] Jonathan [03083], and Abinadab [041], and Malchishua [04444], Saul's [07586] sons [01121].
³ And the battle [04421] went sore [03513] against Saul [07586], and the archers [03384] [0582] [07198] hit [04672] him; and he was sore [03966] wounded [02342] of the archers [03384] [0582] [07198].
⁴ Then said [0559] Saul [07586] unto his armourbearer [05375] [03627], Draw [08025] thy sword [02719], and thrust me through [01856] therewith; lest these uncircumcised [06189] come [0935] and thrust me through [01856], and abuse [05953] me. But his armourbearer [05375] [03627] would [014] not; for he was sore [03966] afraid [03372]. Therefore Saul [07586] took [03947] a sword [02719], and fell [05307] upon it.
⁵ And when his armourbearer [05375] [03627] saw [07200] that Saul [07586] was dead [04191], he fell [05307] likewise upon his sword [02719], and died [04191] with him.
⁶ So Saul [07586] died [04191], and his three [07969] sons [01121], and his armourbearer [05375] [03627], and all his men [0582], that same day [03117] together [03162].
⁷ And when the men [0582] of Israel [03478] that were on the other side [05676] of the valley [06010], and they that were on the other side [05676] Jordan [03383], saw [07200] that the men [0582] of Israel [03478] fled [05127], and that Saul [07586] and his sons [01121] were dead [04191], they forsook [05800] the cities [05892], and fled [05127]; and the Philistines [06430] came [0935] and dwelt [03427] in them.

⁴⁰ Then said [0559] he unto all Israel [03478], Be ye on one [0259] side [05676], and I and Jonathan [03129] my son [01121] will be on the other [0259] side [05676]. And the people [05971] said [0559] unto Saul [07586], Do [06213] what seemeth [05869] good [02896] unto thee.

⁷ And when the men [0582] of Israel [03478] that were on the other side [05676] of the valley [06010], and they that were on the other side [05676] Jordan [03383], saw [07200] that the men [0582] of Israel [03478] fled [05127], and that Saul [07586] and his sons [01121] were dead [04191], they forsook [05800] the cities [05892], and fled [05127]; and the Philistines [06430] came [0935] and dwelt [03427] in them.

⁵⁰ And the name [08034] of Saul's [07586] wife [0802] was Ahinoam [0293], the daughter [01323] of Ahimaaz [0290]: and the name [08034] of the captain [08269] of his host [06635] was Abner [074], the son [01121] of Ner [05369], Saul's [07586] uncle [01730].
⁵¹ And Kish [07027] was the father [01] of Saul [07586]; and Ner [05369] the father [01] of Abner [074] was the son [01121] of Abiel [022].

³ And the battle [04421] went sore [03513] against Saul [07586], and the archers [03384] [07198] hit [04672] him, and he was wounded [02342] of the archers [03384].

² And the Philistines [06430] followed hard [01692] upon Saul [07586] and upon his sons [01121]; and the Philistines [06430] slew [05221] Jonathan [03083], and Abinadab [041], and Malchishua [04444], Saul's [07586] sons [01121].
³ And the battle [04421] went sore [03513] against Saul [07586], and the archers [03384] [0582] [07198] hit [04672] him; and he was sore [03966] wounded [02342] of the archers [03384] [0582] [07198].
⁴ Then said [0559] Saul [07586] unto his armourbearer [05375] [03627], Draw [08025] thy sword [02719], and thrust me through [01856] therewith; lest these uncircumcised [06189] come [0935] and thrust me through [01856], and abuse [05953] me. But his armourbearer [05375] [03627] would [014] not; for he was sore [03966] afraid [03372]. Therefore Saul [07586] took [03947] a sword [02719], and fell [05307] upon it.
⁵ And when his armourbearer [05375] [03627] saw [07200] that Saul [07586] was dead [04191], he fell [05307] likewise upon his sword [02719], and died [04191] with him.
⁶ So Saul [07586] died [04191], and his three [07969] sons [01121], and his armourbearer [05375] [03627], and all his men [0582], that same day [03117] together [03162].

⁴ And the Philistines [06430] gathered themselves together [06908], and came [0935] and pitched [02583] in Shunem [07766]: and Saul [07586] gathered [06908] all Israel [03478] together [06908], and they pitched [02583] in Gilboa [01533].

¹ Now the Philistines [06430] fought [03898] against Israel [03478]; and the men [0376] of Israel [03478] fled [05127] from before [06440] the Philistines [06430], and fell down [05307] slain [02491] in mount [02022] Gilboa [01533].

¹ Now the Philistines [06430] gathered together [06908] all their armies [04264] to Aphek [0663]: and the Israelites [03478] pitched [02583] by a fountain [05869] which is in Jezreel [03157].

¹ Now the Philistines [06430] gathered together [06908] all their armies [04264] to Aphek [0663]: and the Israelites [03478] pitched [02583] by a fountain [05869] which is in Jezreel [03157].
² And the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430] passed on [05674] by hundreds [03967], and by thousands [0505]: but David [01732] and his men [0582] passed on [05674] in the rereward [0314] with Achish [0397].
³ Then said [0559] the princes [08269] of the Philistines [06430], What do these Hebrews [05680] here? And Achish [0397] said [0559] unto the princes [08269] of the Philistines [06430], Is not this David [01732], the servant [05650] of Saul [07586] the king [04428] of Israel [03478], which hath been with me these days [03117], or these years [08141], and I have found [04672] no fault [03972] in him since [03117] he fell [05307] unto me unto this day [03117]?
⁴ And the princes [08269] of the Philistines [06430] were wroth [07107] with him; and the princes [08269] of the Philistines [06430] said [0559] unto him, Make [07725] this fellow [0376] return [07725], that he may go again [07725] to his place [04725] which thou hast appointed [06485] him, and let him not go down [03381] with us to battle [04421], lest in the battle [04421] he be an adversary [07854] to us: for wherewith should he reconcile [07521] himself unto his master [0113]? should it not be with the heads [07218] of these men [0582]?
⁵ Is not this David [01732], of whom they sang [06030] one to another in dances [04246], saying [0559], Saul [07586] slew [05221] his thousands [0505], and David [01732] his ten thousands [07233]?
⁶ Then Achish [0397] called [07121] David [01732], and said [0559] unto him, Surely, as the LORD [03068] liveth [02416], thou hast been upright [03477], and thy going out [03318] and thy coming in [0935] with me in the host [04264] is good [02896] in my sight [05869]: for I have not found [04672] evil [07451] in thee since the day [03117] of thy coming [0935] unto me unto this day [03117]: nevertheless the lords [05633] favour [02896] thee not [05869].
⁷ Wherefore now return [07725], and go [03212] in peace [07965], that thou displease [06213] [07451] [05869] not the lords [05633] of the Philistines [06430].
⁸ And David [01732] said [0559] unto Achish [0397], But what have I done [06213]? and what hast thou found [04672] in thy servant [05650] so long as [03117] I have been with thee [06440] unto this day [03117], that I may not go [0935] fight [03898] against the enemies [0341] of my lord [0113] the king [04428]?
⁹ And Achish [0397] answered [06030] and said [0559] to David [01732], I know [03045] that thou art good [02896] in my sight [05869], as an angel [04397] of God [0430]: notwithstanding the princes [08269] of the Philistines [06430] have said [0559], He shall not go up [05927] with us to the battle [04421].
¹⁰ Wherefore now rise up early [07925] in the morning [01242] with thy master's [0113] servants [05650] that are come [0935] with thee: and as soon as ye be up early [07925] in the morning [01242], and have light [0215], depart [03212].
¹¹ So David [01732] and his men [0582] rose up early [07925] to depart [03212] in the morning [01242], to return [07725] into the land [0776] of the Philistines [06430]. And the Philistines [06430] went up [05927] to Jezreel [03157].