1 Samuel 31:4

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.

Then said {H559} Saul {H7586} unto his armourbearer {H5375}{H3627}, Draw {H8025} thy sword {H2719}, and thrust me through {H1856} therewith; lest these uncircumcised {H6189} come {H935} and thrust me through {H1856}, and abuse {H5953} me. But his armourbearer {H5375}{H3627} would {H14} not; for he was sore {H3966} afraid {H3372}. Therefore Saul {H7586} took {H3947} a sword {H2719}, and fell {H5307} upon it.

Sha'ul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through with it. Otherwise these uncircumcised men will come, run me through and make sport of me." But his armor-bearer refused, he was too frightened. So Sha'ul took his sword and fell on it.

Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

Then said Saul to his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armorbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it.

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Samuel 31:4

This tragic verse from the book of 1 Samuel describes the final moments of King Saul, Israel's first king, during the devastating Battle of Mount Gilboa. Facing certain defeat and severe injury at the hands of the Philistines, Saul makes a desperate plea to his armor-bearer.

Context

The events of 1 Samuel 31 depict a decisive battle where Israel is routed by their long-standing enemies, the Philistines. Saul's sons, including Jonathan, have already fallen. Wounded by archers, Saul fears being captured, tortured, and humiliated by the "uncircumcised" Philistines—a term of contempt used by Israelites to denote those outside the covenant of God. His fear of abuse and public disgrace leads him to seek a swift death rather than endure the ignominy of Philistine captivity.

Key Themes

  • Despair and Humiliation: Saul's final act is driven by profound despair and a desperate desire to avoid the ultimate humiliation at the hands of his enemies. He prefers death by his own hand to being "abused" (likely referring to torture, mockery, or public defilement) by the Philistines.
  • The End of a Reign: This verse marks the literal and symbolic end of Saul's kingship, which began with great promise but was marred by disobedience and pride. His death is a culmination of his tragic downfall, foreshadowed by earlier prophecies concerning his kingdom being torn from him (see 1 Samuel 15:28).
  • Suicide in Scripture: Saul's suicide is one of several instances recorded in the Bible (e.g., Ahithophel in 2 Samuel 17:23, Judas Iscariot in Matthew 27:5). The Bible records these events without explicit condemnation or endorsement, presenting them as tragic consequences of despair or desperation.

Linguistic Insights

The term "uncircumcised" (Hebrew: arelim) is a significant descriptor, emphasizing the Philistines' status as outsiders to God's covenant people. For Saul, being abused by them would have been the ultimate desecration, a profound spiritual and physical insult. The word "abuse" (Hebrew: 'alel) carries connotations of ill-treatment, humiliation, and even torture, reinforcing Saul's intense fear of what awaited him if captured alive.

Reflection and Application

King Saul's death is a somber reminder of the consequences of a life lived apart from full obedience to God. While his immediate fear was of physical abuse, the deeper tragedy lies in his spiritual state and the ultimate failure of his reign. His despair reflects a lack of hope and trust in divine providence, even in the face of overwhelming odds. For believers today, this narrative underscores the importance of perseverance, faith, and seeking God's will even in dire circumstances, rather than succumbing to despair. It also highlights the devastating effects of sin and disobedience, which can lead to tragic ends, even for those once chosen by God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 1:9 (4 votes)

    He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life [is] yet whole in me.

  • 2 Samuel 1:10 (4 votes)

    So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that [was] upon his head, and the bracelet that [was] on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

  • Judges 9:54 (4 votes)

    Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

  • 2 Samuel 1:6 (4 votes)

    And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

  • 2 Samuel 1:20 (4 votes)

    Tell [it] not in Gath, publish [it] not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

  • 1 Samuel 14:6 (3 votes)

    And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

  • 1 Samuel 17:36 (3 votes)

    Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.