1 Samuel 31:7

_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 men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley - probably the valley of Jezreel, the largest and most southern of the valleys that run between little Hermon and the ridges of the Gilbea range direct into the Jordan valley. It was very natural for the people in the towns and villages there to take fright and flee; because if they had waited for the arrival of the victors, they must, according to the war usages of the time, have been deprived either of their liberty or their lives....

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 31:7. _THE MEN OF ISRAEL THAT_ WERE _ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE_ _VALLEY_] They appear to have been panic-struck, and therefore fled as far as they could out of the reach of the Philistines. As the Philistines possessed _Beth-shan_, situated near to _Jordan_, the people on _the other side_ of that river, fearing for their safety, fled also....

THE MEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VALLEY - This must mean to the north of the plain of Jezreel, and would comprise the tribe of Naphtali, and Zabulon, and probably Issachar. But the text of 1 Chronicles 10:7 has “that were in the valley,” limiting the statement to the inhabitants of the plain of Jezreel. ON THE OTHER SIDE JORDAN - This phrase most commonly means on the east of Jordan, the speaker being supposed to be on the west side. But it is also used of the west of Jordan, as here, if the text be sound. THE PHILISTINES ... DWELT IN THEM - One of the principal cities, Beth-shan, fell into their power at once 1 Samuel 31:10....

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 WHICH THE MEN OF ISRAEL THAT [WERE] ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VALLEY,.... The valley of Jezreel; of which Hosea 1:5; AND [THEY] THAT [WERE] ON THE OTHER SIDE JORDAN; or rather "on that side"; for the phrase will bear to be rendered either way, and so may mean that side of Jordan on which the battle was fought; for as for the other side, or that beyond it, the Israelites there could not be in such fear of the Philistines, nor do we ever read of their inhabiting any cities there; though as the phrase is used of the valley, as well as of the river, it may be rendered "about the valley, [and] about Jordan" g, and so describes such that dwelt near to each of them: SAW THAT THE MEN OF ISRAEL FLED, AND THAT SAUL AND HIS SONS WERE DEAD; that is, had information and intelligence of those facts, for it is not to be supposed they saw them with their eyes:

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....

_on the other side of the valley_ On the side of the valley (_êmek_, see on 1 Samuel 6:13) or plain of Jezreel opposite to the battle-field. The district to the north is meant, in which the tribes of Issachar, Zebulun and Naphtali dwelt. 1 Chronicles 10:7 however reads simply "in the valley," and perhaps the phrase only means "on the side of the valley." See next note. _on the other side Jordan_ This is the usual sense of the Hebrew words. The panic spread even to the eastern side of the Jordan. But possibly the phrase here means "on the side of the Jordan," i.e. in the district between the battle-field and the river; which agrees better with the account of the exploit of the Jabeshites, and the establishment of Ishbosheth's kingdom at Mahanaim. The greater part of the north of Canaan

A DIGEST OF CHAPTER 31 1 Samuel 31:1-6 _Saul's death._ Samuel had told Saul that he would die in battle. This came to pass as the armies of Israel and Philistia met in battle on Mt. Gilboa. Saul fell on his sword and killed himself. His sons were killed with him in this fatal battle. 1 Samuel 31:7-13 _Saul's burial._ The Philistines cut off Saul's head and stripped off his armor. They put his armor in the house of their gods the Ashtaroth. They fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. The men of Jabesh-Gilead heard that Saul's body was hanging on Beth-shan. They came by night and took the body and gave it a decent burial. LESSONS FOR LEARNING 1. _The word of God is sure._ Saul had done everything he could to try to thwart God'