Text -- 1 Samuel 31:1-5 (NET)

The Death of Saul

31:1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel. The men of Israel fled from the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 31:2 The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. 31:3 Saul himself was in the thick of the battle; the archers spotted him and wounded him severely. 31:4 Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and stab me with it! Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come, stab me, and torture me.” But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it. 31:5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his own sword and died with him.

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Sa 31:2

¹ tn Heb “stuck close after.”

² tn Heb “the Philistines.”

NET Notes: 1Sa 31:3

¹ tn Heb “and the battle was heavy against Saul.”

² tn Heb “the shooters, men with the bow.”