1 Samuel 31:3
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
2 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
4 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.
5 When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died with him.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
- KJV
- And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
- WEB
- The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.
- ASV
- And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.
- DARBY
- And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers came up with him; and he was much terrified by the archers.
- BLB
- And the battle became fierce against Saul, and the archers found him—men with the bow—and he was wounded severely by the archers.
- ÅB
- Og striden ble hård der hvor Saul sto; bueskytterne kom over ham, og han ble grepet av redsel for skytterne.
- OTB
- Kampen raste hardt mot Saul, og bueskytterne fant ham; og han ble alvorlig såret av dem.
- B1930
- Og striden blev hård der hvor Saul stod; bueskytterne kom over ham, og han blev grepet av redsel for skytterne.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
2 Samuel 1:6
“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him.
Read in contextGenesis 49:23
The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.
Read in context2 Samuel 1:4
“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
Read in contextAmos 2:14
Escape will fail the swift, the strong will not prevail by his strength, and the mighty will not save his life.
Read in context1 Kings 22:34
However, a certain man drew his bow without taking special aim, and he struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So the king said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded!”
Read in context