1 Samuel 31:3

_AND THE BATTLE WENT SORE AGAINST SAUL, AND THE ARCHERS HIT HIM; AND HE WAS SORE WOUNDED OF THE ARCHERS._ The battle went sore against Saul ... and he was sore wounded of the archers. [The Septuagint has eis ta hupochondria, in the bowels.] He seems to have bravely maintained his ground for some time longer, but exhausted with fatigue and loss of blood, and dreading that if he fell alive into the enemy's hands they would insolently maltreat him (Joshua 8:29; Joshua 10:24; Judges 8:21), he requested his armour-bearer to despatch him, which, however, that officer refused to do. Saul then, falling on the point of his sword, killed himself, and the armour-bearer, who, according to Jewish writers, was Doeg, following

1-7 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. Saul, when sorely wounded, and unable to resist or to flee, expressed no concern about his never-dying soul; but only desired that the Philistines might not insult over him, or put him to pain, and he became his own murderer. As it is the grand deceit of the devil, to persuade sinners, under great difficulties, to fly to this last act of desperation, it is well to fortify the mind against it, by a serious consideration of its sinfulness before God, and its miserable consequences in society. But our security is not in ourselves. Let us seek protection from Him who keepeth Israel. Let us watch and pray; and take unto us the whole armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand....

Verse 1 Samuel 31:3. _HE WAS SORE WOUNDED OF THE ARCHERS._] It is likely that Saul's sons were slain by the archers, and that Saul was now mortally wounded by the same. Houbigant translates, _The archers_ _rushed upon him, from whom he received a grievous wound_. He farther remarks that had not Saul been grievously wounded, and beyond hope of recovery, he would not have wished his armour-bearer to despatch him; as he might have continued still to fight, or have made his escape from this most disastrous battle. Some of the versions render it, _He FEARED the archers greatly_; but this is by no means likely....

HE WAS SORE WOUNDED - Better, “he was sore afraid” (compare Deuteronomy 2:25). Saul’s fear is explained in 1 Samuel 31:4....

DEFEAT AND DEATH OF SAUL (1 Samuel 31:1.). EXPOSITION SAUL AND HIS SONS SLAIN (1 Samuel 31:1). 1 SAMUEL 31:1, 1 SAMUEL 31:2 THE PHILISTINES FOUGHT. Literally it is a participle present, "the Philistines are warring," as if it were a mere resumption of 1 Samuel 28:1. In the battle fou

AND THE BATTLE WENT SORE AGAINST SAUL,.... Pressed heavy upon him; he was the butt of the Philistines, they aimed at his person and life: AND THE ARCHERS HIT HIM; or "found him" a; the place where was, and directed their arrows at him: AND HE WAS SORE WOUNDED OF THE ARCHERS; or rather "he was afraid" of them, as the Targum, for as yet he was not wounded; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, and is the sense Kimchi and Ben Melech give of the word: he was not afraid of death, as Abarbinel observes, he chose to die; but he was afraid he should be hit by the archers in such a way that he should not die immediately, and should be taken alive and ill used; the Philistines, especially the Cherethites, were famous for archery; Zephaniah 2:5. a וימצאהו "et inveserust cum", Pagninus, Montanus....

HIT HIM Compare (2 Samuel 1:10); (2 Samuel 21:12). The order is: (1) Saul is "hit" -- wounded mortally, potentially "slain," by the Philistines; (2) either to escape agony, or insult by the enemy, he falls upon his sword, and his armour-bearer, supposing him to be dead, slew himself; (3) but Saul was not dead; raising himself upon his spear, he besought the Amalekite to put him to death. (2 Samuel 1:10); (2 Samuel 21:12)....

9. THE DEATH OF SAUL CHAPTER 31 _ 1. Saul wounded in battle (1 Samuel 31:1)_ 2. Saul a suicide (1 Samuel 31:4) 3. The victorious Philistines (1 Samuel 31:7) 4. The bodies recovered and burnt (1 Samuel 31:11) A sad ending to one of the saddest stories of the Bible. Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchi-shua, Saul's sons, fall first. Then Saul is wounded. He asks his armour bearer to make an end of his sufferings. There is no evidence whatever of his repentance and turning unto the Lord. He died as he had lived in rebellion against Jehovah. The armour-bearer refused to kill Saul; then he fell

1 SAMUEL 31. BATTLE OF GILBOA._ Cf._ p. 285, and 2 Samuel 1:6 *. 1 SAMUEL 31:1. Israel was routed, Saul's sons slain, and he himself in danger of being taken prisoner. To avoid this he fell upon his own sword. 3. HE WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED: perhaps read, with LXX, he was wounded by the archers. 1 Samuel 31:4. and thrust me through (_second occurrence) :_ omit with 1 Chronicles 10:4. What Saul fears is not mutilation after death, but being taken alive, and, like Samson, being made to provide sport for the Philistines....

SORE WOUNDED. in sore anguish....