1 Samuel 31:4

² The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.

³ When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.

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.

⁶ So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day.

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: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and abuse me!” But his armor bearer would not, for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: Then said Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through with it; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armour-bearer would not; for he was much afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it.
BLB: And Saul said to the bearer of his armor, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised ones come and thrust me through and torture me.” And the bearer of his armor was not willing, for he was greatly afraid. And Saul took a sword and fell on it.

ÅB: Da sa Saul til sin våpenbærer: Dra ditt sverd og gjennombor meg med det, så ikke disse uomskårne skal komme og gjennombore meg og fare ille med meg! Men våpenbæreren ville ikke; han var for redd. Så tok Saul sitt sverd og styrtet seg i det.
OTB: Da sa Saul til våpenbæreren sin, “Trekk sverdet ditt og stikk meg med det, ellers vil disse uomskårne mennene komme og stikke meg og mishandle meg.” Men våpenbæreren hans ville ikke, fordi han var veldig redd. Så Saul tok sverdet og kastet seg på det.
B1930: Da sa Saul til sin våbensvenn: Dra ditt sverd og gjennembor mig med det, så ikke disse uomskårne skal komme og gjennembore mig og fare ille med mig! Men våbensvennen vilde ikke; han var for redd. Så tok Saul sitt sverd og styrtet sig i det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Judges 9:54
He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
Read in context
2 Samuel 1:9–10
Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’
Read in context
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 context
2 Samuel 17:23
When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.
Read in context
2 Samuel 1:20
Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
Read in context
1 Kings 16:27
As for the rest of the acts of Omri, along with his accomplishments and the might he exercised, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?
Read in context
1 Chronicles 10:4
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
Read in context
2 Samuel 1:14
So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?”
Read in context