1 Samuel 31:1-6

1 Samuel 31:1-6

[1] Now the Philistines  fought  against Israel:  fled  from before  the Philistines,  and fell down  slain  in mount  Gilboa.  [2] And the Philistines  followed hard  upon Saul  and upon his sons;  and the Philistines  slew  Jonathan,  and Abinadab,  and Malchishua,  Saul's  sons.  [3] And the battle  went sore  against Saul,  and the archers  hit  him; and he was sore  wounded  of the archers.  [4] 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. [5] And when his armourbearer  saw  that Saul  was dead,  he fell  likewise upon his sword,  and died  [6] So Saul  died,  and his three  sons,  and his armourbearer,  that same day  together. 

What does 1 Samuel 31:1-6 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

God had announced that Saul would deliver His people from the hand of the Philistines ( 1 Samuel 9:16). However, Saul frustrated God"s purpose by not following the Lord faithfully. Consequently the Philistines got the better of Saul and his soldiers (cf. Joshua 1:7-9). This battle took place in1011 B.C, the last year of Saul"s reign. Three other important battles took place nearby in the Jezreel Valley: Deborah and Barak"s defeat of Sisera ( Judges 4:15; Judges 5:21), Gideon"s victory over the Midianites ( Judges 7), and Pharaoh Neco"s killing of King Josiah ( 2 Kings 23:29). The name of God does not appear in this chapter, perhaps suggesting that He had now given up Saul to the consequences of his apostasy (cf. Romans 1).
Jonathan, a faithful son and subject of the king, followed his father into battle. The death of this godly man because of his father"s sins seems unfair as well as tragic, but God permitted it. David would replace Saul on the throne. Another son of Saul, Ish-bosheth, also known as Eshbaal, must not have been present in the battle (cf. 2 Samuel 2:8; 2 Samuel 2:10; 2 Samuel 2:12; 2 Samuel 3:8; 2 Samuel 3:14-15; 2 Samuel 4:5; 2 Samuel 4:8; 2 Samuel 4:12; 1 Chronicles 8:33).
David had been Saul"s armor-bearer before he had to flee from Saul"s presence ( 1 Samuel 16:21). Saul, probably fearing that the Philistines would torture and abuse him, [1] asked his armor-bearer to kill him, but the young man refused to do Song of Solomon , as David had when he had opportunity. Why this armor-bearer feared to kill Saul is unclear. Perhaps he feared the disgrace that would have hounded him, or even death, for slaying the king. Or perhaps, like David, he feared God and so would not kill the Lord"s anointed. This insubordination, which had characterized Saul"s conduct before Yahweh, led Saul to take his own life. The Bible records three other suicides: Ahithophel"s ( 2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri"s ( 1 Kings 16:18), and Judas" ( Matthew 27:5).
"Isn"t it interesting, he"s very concerned about his image with the enemy but shows little concern for his relationship with God whom he is about to meet?" [2]
Eli, too, died as a result of a battle with the Philistines. Some of his sons also died ( 1 Samuel 4:17). Eli had served as Israel"s high priest unfaithfully for40 years when he died ( 1 Samuel 4:18), and Saul had served as her king for about40 years when he died ( 1 Samuel 13:1). Eli fell off his seat and died ( 1 Samuel 4:18), but Saul fell on his sword and died. [3] Both men were disappointments to God and His people.
Saul"s armor-bearer also committed suicide in battle, probably because if he had outlived the one whom he should have protected with his life, he could have been executed for dereliction of duty. The soldiers who went into battle with Saul also perished. The king not only died, but he took many of his own men down with him.