Bible Commentaries
1 Samuel 31

Introduction

Overview

1 Samuel 31:1, Saul, having lost his army, and his sons slain, he and his armour-bearer kill themselves; 1 Samuel 31:7, The Philistines possess the forsaken towns of the Israelites; 1 Samuel 31:8, They triumph over the dead carcases; 1 Samuel 31:11, They of Jabesh-gilead recovering the dead bodies by night, burn them at Jabesh, and mournfully bury their bones.

Verse 1

the Philistines: 1 Samuel 28:1, 1 Samuel 28:15, 1 Samuel 29:1

fell down: 1 Samuel 12:25, 1 Chronicles 10:1-12

slain: Heb. wounded

Gilboa: Eusebius and Jerome place this mountain six miles west from Bethshan, where was a large place called Gelbus. The natives still call it Djebel Gilbo. 1 Samuel 28:4, 2 Samuel 1:21

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:17 - ye shall be 1 Samuel 7:13 - against 1 Samuel 28:19 - the Lord 2 Samuel 1:4 - the people 2 Samuel 1:6 - mount 2 Samuel 1:23 - they were 2 Samuel 4:4 - when the tidings 2 Samuel 21:12 - in Gilboa 1 Chronicles 13:2 - left 1 Chronicles 17:8 - have cut off Psalms 44:10 - Thou Psalms 60:1 - scattered Psalms 63:10 - They shall fall Psalms 75:3 - earth Psalms 78:9 - The children Psalms 141:6 - When their judges Proverbs 24:22 - their Hosea 13:11 - General

Verse 2

followed: 1 Samuel 14:22, 2 Samuel 1:6

Jonathan: 1 Samuel 13:2, 1 Samuel 13:16, 1 Samuel 14:1-14, 1 Samuel 14:49, 1 Samuel 18:1-4, 1 Samuel 23:17, 1 Chronicles 8:33, 1 Chronicles 9:39

Saul's sons: Exodus 20:5, 2 Kings 25:7

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 20:16 - Let the Lord 1 Kings 14:1 - the son 1 Chronicles 10:1 - the Philistines fought Psalms 35:8 - into Proverbs 17:13 - General

Verse 3

went sore: 2 Samuel 1:4, Amos 2:14

archers hit him: Heb. shooters, men with bows, found him, Genesis 49:23, 1 Kings 22:34

Reciprocal: Judges 8:21 - Rise thou 1 Chronicles 10:3 - went Psalms 7:16 - General Psalms 21:8 - General Psalms 64:8 - all that Proverbs 17:13 - General

Verse 4

Draw: Judges 9:54, 1 Chronicles 10:4

uncircumcised: 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, 2 Samuel 1:20, Jeremiah 9:25, Jeremiah 9:26, Ezekiel 44:7-9

abuse me: or, mock me

he was sore: 2 Samuel 1:14

Saul: 2 Samuel 1:9, 2 Samuel 1:10, 2 Samuel 17:23, 1 Kings 16:27

a sword: Eth hacherve, rather, "the sword," i.e., his armour- bearer's, who, according to the Jews, was Doeg; and if so, then Saul and his executioner fell by the same sword with which they massacred the priests of God.

Reciprocal: Judges 14:3 - uncircumcised 1 Samuel 31:9 - cut off 1 Kings 16:18 - and burnt the king's house 2 Kings 6:33 - this evil is of the Lord Psalms 7:16 - General Psalms 9:5 - destroyed Psalms 34:21 - they Psalms 37:15 - sword Psalms 119:96 - I have seen Proverbs 24:16 - but Jeremiah 38:19 - mock Matthew 27:5 - and departed Acts 16:27 - he drew 2 Corinthians 4:8 - not in despair

Verse 5

1 Chronicles 10:5

Reciprocal: Judges 8:21 - Rise thou Judges 9:54 - Draw thy 2 Samuel 1:10 - slew 2 Samuel 17:23 - and hanged 1 Kings 16:18 - and burnt the king's house Psalms 119:96 - I have seen Matthew 27:5 - and departed Acts 16:27 - he drew

Verse 6

1 Samuel 4:10, 1 Samuel 4:11, 1 Samuel 11:15, 1 Samuel 12:17, 1 Samuel 12:25, 1 Samuel 28:19, 1 Chronicles 10:6, Ecclesiastes 9:1, Ecclesiastes 9:2, Hosea 13:10, Hosea 13:11

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 26:10 - he shall descend 2 Samuel 7:9 - cut off Acts 13:22 - when

Verse 7

they forsook the cities: 1 Samuel 13:6, Leviticus 26:32, Leviticus 26:36, Deuteronomy 28:33, Judges 6:2

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 14:22 - hid themselves 2 Samuel 2:7 - let your 2 Samuel 4:3 - General 1 Chronicles 10:7 - then they 2 Chronicles 13:19 - took cities Psalms 9:6 - thou hast Psalms 144:14 - no breaking in

Verse 8

to strip: 1 Chronicles 10:8, 2 Chronicles 20:25

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 1:19 - beauty

Verse 9

cut off: 1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Samuel 17:51, 1 Samuel 17:54, 1 Chronicles 10:9, 1 Chronicles 10:10

to publish: Judges 16:23, Judges 16:24, 2 Samuel 1:20

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 4:7 - took his head Daniel 1:2 - and he

Verse 10

they put: The Philistines placed the armour of Saul in the temple of Ashtaroth as a trophy of victory, and a testimony of their gratitude, in the same manner as David placed the sword of Goliath in the tabernacle. 1 Samuel 21:9

Ashtaroth: Judges 2:13

Bethshan: Joshua 17:11, Judges 1:27, 2 Samuel 21:12-14

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 4:12 - Bethshean 1 Chronicles 7:29 - Bethshean 1 Chronicles 10:9 - took 1 Chronicles 10:10 - their gods Daniel 1:2 - and he

Verse 11

Jabeshgilead: 1 Samuel 11:1, 2 Samuel 2:4

of that: or, concerning him

that which: etc

Reciprocal: Judges 21:8 - Jabeshgilead 2 Samuel 21:12 - the bones of Saul 1 Chronicles 10:11 - when

Verse 12

burnt them there: 2 Chronicles 16:14, Jeremiah 34:5, Amos 6:10

Reciprocal: Joshua 17:11 - Manasseh 2 Samuel 2:7 - let your 1 Kings 4:12 - Bethshean

Verse 13

their bones: Genesis 35:8, 2 Samuel 2:4, 2 Samuel 2:5, 2 Samuel 21:12-14

fasted seven: Genesis 50:10

Reciprocal: Psalms 32:3 - When Psalms 108:11 - who hast