TRV
Translation
King James Version
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
Complete Jewish Bible
Thus Sha'ul, his three sons, his armor-bearer and all his men died that same day together.
Berean Standard Bible
So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day.
American Standard Version
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armorbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
World English Bible Messianic
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.
Geneva Bible (1599)
So Saul dyed, and his three sonnes, and his armour bearer, and all his men that same day together.
Young's Literal Translation
and Saul dieth, and three of his sons, and the bearer of his weapons, also all his men, on that day together.
Study This Verse
Commentary on 1 Samuel 31 verses 1–7
1 ¶ Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
The day of recompence has now come, in which Saul must account for the blood of the Amalekites which he had sinfully spared, and that of the priests which he had more sinfully spilt; that of David too, which he would have spilt, must come into the account. Now his day has come to fall, as David foresaw, when he should descend into battle and perish, Sa1 26:10. Come and see the righteous judgments of God.
I. He sees his soldiers fall about him, Sa1 31:1. Whether the Philistines were more numerous, better posted, and better led on, or what other advantages they had, we are not told; but it seems they were more vigorous, for they made the onset; they fought against Israel, and the Israelites fled and fell. The best of the troops were put into disorder, and multitudes slain, probably those whom Saul had employed in pursuing David. Thus those who had followed him and served him in his sin went before him in his fall and shared with him in his plagues.
II. He sees his sons fall before him. The victorious Philistines pressed most forcibly upon the king of Israel and those about him. His three sons were next him, it is probable, and they were all three slain before his face, to his great grief (for they were the hopes of his family) and to his great terror, for they were now the guard of his person, and he could conclude no other than that his own turn would come next. His sons are named (Sa1 31:2), and it grieves us to find Jonathan among them: that wise, valiant, good man, who was as much David's friend as Saul was his enemy, yet falls with the rest. Duty to his father would not permit him to stay at home, or to retire when the armies engaged; and Providence so orders it that he falls in the common fate of his family, though he never involved himself in the guilt of it; so that the observation of Eliphaz does not hold (Job 4:7), Who ever perished being innocent? For here was one. What shall we say to it? 1. God would hereby complete the vexation of Saul in his dying moments, and the judgment that was to be executed upon his house. If the family must fall, Jonathan, that is one of it, must fall with it. 2. He would hereby make David's way to the crown the more clear and open. For, though Jonathan himself would have cheerfully resigned all his title and interest to him (we have no reason to suspect any other), yet it is very probable that many of the people would have made use of his name for the support of the house of Saul, or at least would have come in but slowly to David. If Ishbosheth (who was now left at home as one unfit for action, and so escaped) had so many friends, what would Jonathan have had, who had been the darling of the people and had never forfeited their favour? Those that were so anxious to have a king like the nations would be zealous for the right line, especially if that threw the crown upon such a head as Jonathan's. This would have embarrassed David; and, if Jonathan could have prevailed to bring in all his interest to David, then it would have been said that Jonathan had made him king, whereas God was to have all the glory. This is the Lord's doing. So that though the death of Jonathan would be a great affliction to David, yet, by making him mindful of his own frailty, as well as by facilitating his accession to the throne, it would be an advantage to him. 3. God would hereby show us that the difference between good and bad is to be made in the other world, not in this. All things come alike to all. 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.
III. He himself is sorely wounded by the Philistines and then slain by his own hand. The archers hit him (Sa1 31:3), so that he could neither fight nor fly, and therefore must inevitably fall into their hands. Thus, to make him the more miserable, destruction comes gradually upon him, and he dies so as to feel himself die. To such an extremity was he now reduced that, 1. He was desirous to die by the hand of his own servant rather than by the hand of the Philistines, lest they should abuse him as they had abused Samson. Miserable man! He finds himself dying, and all his care is to keep his body out of the hands of the Philistines, instead of being solicitous to resign his soul into the hands of God who gave it, Ecc 12:7. As he lived, so he died, proud and jealous, and a terror to himself and all about him. Those who rightly understand the matter think it of small account, in comparison, how it is with them in death, so it may but be well with them after death. Those are in a deplorable condition indeed who, being bitter in soul, long for death, but it cometh not (Job 3:20, Job 3:21), especially those who, despairing of the mercy of god, like Judas, leap into a hell before them, to escape a hell within them. 2. When he could not obtain that favour he became his own executioner, thinking hereby to avoid shame, but running upon a heinous sin, and with it entailing upon his own name a mark of perpetual infamy, as felo de se - a self-murderer. Jonathan, who received his death-wound from the hand of the Philistines and bravely yielded to the fate of war, died on the bed of honour; but Saul died as a fool dieth, as a coward dieth - a proud fool, a sneaking coward; he died as a man that had neither the fear of God nor hope in God, neither the reason of a man nor the religion of an Israelite, much less the dignity of a prince or the resolution of a soldier. Let us all pray, Lord, lead us not into temptation, this temptation. His armour-bearer would not run him through, and he did well to refuse it; for no man's servant ought to be a slave to his master's lusts or passions of any kind. The reason given is that he was sorely afraid, not of death, for he himself ran wilfully upon that immediately; but, having a profound reverence for the king his master, he could not conquer that so far as to do him any hurt; or perhaps he feared lest his trembling hand should give him but half a blow, and so put him to the greater misery.
IV. His armour-bearer who refused to kill him refused not to die with him, but fell likewise upon his sword, Sa1 31:5. This was an aggravating circumstance of the death of Saul, that, by the example of his wickedness in murdering himself, he drew in his servant to be guilty of the same wickedness, and perished not alone in his iniquity. The Jews say that Saul's armour-bearer was Doeg, whom he preferred to that dignity for killing the priests, and, if so, justly does his violent dealing return on his own head. David had foretold concerning him that God would destroy him for ever, Psa 52:5.
V. The country was put into such confusion by the rout of Saul's army that the inhabitants of the neighbouring cities (on that side Jordan, as it might be read) quitted them, and the Philistines, for a time, had possession of them, till things were settled in Israel (Sa1 31:7), to such a sad pass had Saul by his wickedness brought his country, which might have remained in the hands of the uncircumcised if David had not been raised up to repair the breaches of it. See what a king he proved for whom they rejected God and Samuel. They had still done wickedly (it is to be feared) as well as he, and therefore were consumed both they and their king, as the prophet had foretold concerning them, Sa1 12:25. And to this reference is had long after. Hos 13:10, Hos 13:11, "Where are thy saviours in all thy cities, of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? I gave thee a king in my anger, and took him away in my wrath; that is, he was a plague to thee living and dying; thou couldst expect no other."
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–7. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
1 Samuel 31:6 delivers a stark and devastating summary of the Battle of Mount Gilboa, recording the simultaneous deaths of King Saul, his three sons, his armourbearer, and all his immediate retinue. This terse declaration marks the tragic and definitive end of Israel's first monarchy, a reign characterized by disobedience and decline, and serves as a pivotal moment that clears the path for the divinely appointed rise of David to the throne.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse provides the grim conclusion to the narrative of the Battle of Mount Gilboa, detailed in 1 Samuel 31:1-5. The preceding verses describe the Philistine victory, the wounding of Saul, his desperate plea to his armourbearer to kill him, the armourbearer's refusal, and Saul's subsequent suicide by falling on his own sword. The deaths of his sons, including the beloved Jonathan, are also recounted as occurring in the battle. 1 Samuel 31:6 functions as a summarizing statement, emphasizing the totality and simultaneity of the catastrophe that befell the Israelite leadership on that fateful day. It sets the stage for the Philistine desecration of the bodies in 1 Samuel 31:7-10 and the subsequent narrative of David's ascension in 2 Samuel.
Historical & Cultural Context: The Battle of Mount Gilboa represents a critical juncture in Israelite history, marking a severe military defeat at the hands of the Philistines, Israel's formidable and persistent adversaries throughout the period of the judges and early monarchy. The Philistines, a technologically superior people with iron weaponry and organized military structures, posed an existential threat to the fledgling Israelite kingdom. The death of a king in battle, especially by suicide, was a profound disgrace and a sign of utter defeat, often leading to the collapse of the kingdom or dynasty. The role of the armourbearer was one of deep loyalty and personal service, highlighting the intimate tragedy of Saul's final moments. This event underscores the volatile political and military landscape of the ancient Near East, where national survival often hinged on military prowess and divine favor.
Key Themes: 1 Samuel 31:6 powerfully encapsulates several major themes woven throughout the book of 1 Samuel. Firstly, it signifies The End of an Era, marking the dramatic and tragic conclusion of Saul's reign, Israel's first king, and the collapse of his dynasty. Secondly, it serves as a stark illustration of the Consequences of Disobedience, as Saul's life was characterized by a gradual departure from God's commands, leading to his rejection as king (as seen in 1 Samuel 15:23). His violent end and the comprehensive defeat of his army are presented as the culmination of his spiritual rebellion. Thirdly, the phrase "all his men, that same day together" emphasizes the Complete Devastation of the Israelite forces, signifying not merely the loss of the king but a comprehensive military and dynastic catastrophe. Finally, even in this moment of human failure and despair, the verse subtly points to Divine Sovereignty, as Saul's demise, though tragic, clears the way for the anointing and reign of David, God's chosen king, whose kingdom would ultimately endure.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The narrative of 1 Samuel 31:6 is imbued with profound Tragedy. The entire arc of Saul's life, from his initial anointing as a promising king to his descent into paranoia, disobedience, and ultimately, self-destruction, culminates in this devastating scene. His death, alongside his sons, represents the tragic end of a failed reign and a dynasty that God rejected. Furthermore, there is significant Irony present. Saul, chosen by God to deliver Israel from its enemies, particularly the Philistines, ultimately dies at their hands and by his own sword, a stark contrast to the divine protection he once enjoyed. His reign, intended to establish a secure kingdom, ends in utter collapse and disgrace, paving the way for the very king he relentlessly pursued. The concise, almost clinical, reporting of these multiple deaths in one breath also serves as a form of Understatement, allowing the sheer weight of the catastrophe to resonate without explicit emotional commentary.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 31:6 serves as a powerful theological statement on the consequences of disobedience and the outworking of divine sovereignty. Saul's tragic end is not merely a military defeat but the culmination of God's judgment upon a king who repeatedly rebelled against His commands and relied on His own strength rather than divine guidance. It underscores the biblical principle that faithfulness to God is paramount, even for those in positions of power. Yet, even in this moment of profound human failure and national despair, God's overarching plan remains sovereign. Saul's death, though devastating, was a necessary step in the divine narrative, clearing the way for David, the "man after God's own heart," to assume the throne and establish a more enduring, God-centered dynasty from which the Messiah would ultimately come. This demonstrates that God works His purposes through human actions, failures, and triumphs, always moving history towards His ultimate goals.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The stark reality of 1 Samuel 31:6 compels us to reflect on the profound consequences of choices, particularly for those in leadership. Saul's story is a sobering reminder that a departure from God's will, even for a divinely appointed leader, can lead to personal ruin and widespread catastrophe. It highlights the critical importance of humble and consistent obedience to God, recognizing that true authority and lasting success flow from alignment with His purposes, not from human strength or ambition. For individuals, it underscores the need for self-examination regarding our own areas of disobedience and pride, urging us to turn back to God before our choices lead to tragic ends. For leaders, it serves as a powerful cautionary tale, emphasizing that their decisions have far-reaching implications, not only for themselves but for those they lead and for future generations. Ultimately, even in the midst of such a devastating scene, the narrative reminds us that God's sovereign plan continues to unfold, bringing hope that even through human failure, His ultimate purposes will prevail.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of the differing accounts of Saul's death in 1 Samuel 31 and 2 Samuel 1?
Answer: The account in 1 Samuel 31:4-6 states that Saul fell on his own sword after his armourbearer refused to kill him, and then his armourbearer also died. 2 Samuel 1:1-16 presents a different narrative where an Amalekite claims to have killed Saul at Saul's request, then brings Saul's crown and armlet to David. Scholars generally view the 1 Samuel account as the historically accurate one, given its detailed description and contextual consistency within the narrative of the battle. The Amalekite's story in 2 Samuel is widely interpreted as a fabrication, likely an attempt by the Amalekite to gain favor with David by claiming credit for killing his enemy, unaware of David's deep respect for God's anointed king. David's immediate execution of the Amalekite for laying hands on the Lord's anointed (as seen in 2 Samuel 1:14-16) further supports the idea that the Amalekite's claim was a self-serving lie, not the true account of Saul's death.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic death of King Saul in 1 Samuel 31:6, a king who failed due to disobedience and self-reliance, serves as a profound backdrop against which the true and eternal King, Jesus Christ, shines even brighter. Saul's kingship, though divinely initiated, ultimately collapsed, marked by human frailty and a violent end. This failure, however, was part of God's sovereign plan to clear the way for David, a king after God's own heart, who himself foreshadowed the coming Messiah. Jesus, the ultimate Son of David, embodies the perfect kingship that Saul failed to achieve. Unlike Saul, who struggled with obedience and succumbed to his enemies, Christ perfectly obeyed His Father, even to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:8). He did not die in defeat but willingly laid down His life to conquer the ultimate enemies: sin and death (Hebrews 2:14-15). Saul's kingdom ended in collapse and despair, but Christ's kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, one that will never be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14; Luke 1:32-33). Thus, Saul's tragic end, while marking the close of an era, ultimately points forward to the perfect, victorious, and eternal reign of Christ, the Lamb of God who truly takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).