[Is it] not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness [is] great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow [shalt] thou and thy sons [be] with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.
¶ And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
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Commentary for 1 Samuel 31:6
1 Samuel 31:6 recounts the tragic end of Saul's reign as the first king of Israel. The verse succinctly states, "So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, that same day together." This event occurs at the end of a fierce battle between the Israelites and the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. Saul's death marks the conclusion of a monarchy that began with high hopes but ended in disaster due to Saul's disobedience to God's commands and his subsequent rejection by the prophet Samuel.
The broader context of this verse is found in the themes of divine sovereignty, human fallibility, and the consequences of disobedience. Saul's kingship was initially established by God through the prophet Samuel, but Saul's failure to follow God's instructions, particularly in the complete destruction of the Amalekites, led to God's rejection of him as king. Saul's disobedience and his growing paranoia and jealousy, especially towards the young David, whom Samuel had anointed as Saul's successor, further illustrate the decline of his reign.
The death of Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, who was a close friend of David, is a poignant moment in Israel's history. It not only signifies the end of Saul's dynasty but also sets the stage for the rise of David's kingship, which will bring a period of stability and prosperity to Israel. The verse also reflects the brutal reality of ancient warfare, where the death of a king often meant the death of his heirs and retinue, ensuring that no direct claimants to the throne would survive to challenge the victors.
In summary, 1 Samuel 31:6 is a somber verse that encapsulates the end of a tumultuous era in Israel's history. It highlights the themes of divine judgment, the tragic consequences of human error, and the transition of power that aligns with God's ultimate plan for His people. Saul's death serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of obedience to God and the fleeting nature of earthly power.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: H7586 There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁאוּל Transliteration: Shâʼûwl Pronunciation: shaw-ool' Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul.
Strong's Number: H4191 There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: מוּת Transliteration: mûwth Pronunciation: mooth Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
Strong's Number: H7969 There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ Transliteration: shâlôwsh Pronunciation: shaw-loshe' Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ.
Strong's Number: H1121 There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: בֵּן Transliteration: bên Pronunciation: bane Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
Strong's Number: H5375 There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: נָשָׂא Transliteration: nâsâʼ Pronunciation: naw-saw' Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
Strong's Number: H3627 There are 276 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: כְּלִי Transliteration: kᵉlîy Pronunciation: kel-ee' Description: from כָּלָה; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon); armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, [phrase] furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, [idiom] one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, [phrase] psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, [phrase] whatsoever.
Strong's Number: H582 There are 648 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: אֱנוֹשׁ Transliteration: ʼĕnôwsh Pronunciation: en-oshe' Description: from אָנַשׁ; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified אָדָם); hence,; a man in general (singly or collectively); another, [idiom] (blood-) thirsty, certain, chap(-man); divers, fellow, [idiom] in the flower of their age, husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some ([idiom] of them), [phrase] stranger, those, [phrase] their trade. It is often unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in apposition with another word. Compare אִישׁ.
Strong's Number: H3117 There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יוֹם Transliteration: yôwm Pronunciation: yome Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
Strong's Number: H3162 There are 139 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: יַחַד Transliteration: yachad Pronunciation: yakh'-ad Description: from יָחַד; properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly; alike, at all (once), both, likewise, only, (al-) together, withal.