1 Samuel 31

1 Samuel 31:1

1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 31

The Israelites are smitten by the Philistines: Saul’ s sons are slain: Saul is wounded: he falleth on his own sword; as doth his armour-bearer, . The rest flee; and the Philistines possess their towns, and triumph over the dead carcasses, . They of Jabesh-Gilead by might take down the bodies of Saul and of his sons, and burn them; and mournfully bury their bones, .

The Philistines fought against Israel, whilst David was engaged against the Amalekites. So he returns to the history, which had been interrupted to give an account of David’ s concerns.

1 Samuel 31:2

The Philistines slew Jonathan, David’ s dear friend; God so ordering it for the further exercise of David’ s faith and patience; and that David might depend upon God alone for his crown, and receive it solely from him, and not from Jonathan; who doubtless, had he lived, would have speedily settled the crown upon David’ s head, which would have in some sort eclipsed the glory of God’ s grace and power in this work. There was also a special providence of God in taking away Jonathan, (who of all Saul’ s sons seems to have been the fairest for the crown,) for the preventing divisions, which have happened amongst the people concerning the successor; David’ s way to the crown being by this means made the more clear.

Abinadab, called also Ishui, . Ish-bosheth was not here, being possibly at home, for the management of public affairs there.

1 Samuel 31:4

Thrust me through, and abuse me; lest they take me, and put me to some shameful and cruel death.

Saul took a sword, and fell upon it, and died of the wound, as it follows.

1 Samuel 31:7

Of the valley, to wit, the valley of Jezreel, where the battle was fought.

On the other side Jordan; or rather, on this side Jordan; for these were in the most danger; and the Hebrew preposition is indifferently used for on this side, or for beyond.

1 Samuel 31:9

They cut off his head, as the Israelites did by Goliath.

To publish it in the house of their idols, to give them the glory of this victory.

1 Samuel 31:11

Jabesh-gilead, which was beyond Jordan; for the people on this side Jordan were fled from their cities, as was now said.

1 Samuel 31:12

Burnt their flesh, after the manner.

1 Samuel 31:13

To testify their sorrow for the public loss of Saul, and of the people of God; and to entreat God’ s favour to prevent the utter extinction of his people. But you must not understand this word of fasting strictly, as if they eat nothing for seven whole days; but in a more large and general sense, as it is used both in sacred and profane writers; that they did eat but little, and that seldom, and that but mean food, and drunk only water for that time.