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1 Samuel 31:4

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

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.

1 Samuel 31:4 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Samuel 31:4

Theological / Devotional

Abuse me. Or, “deal wantonly [or ruthlessly] with me.” Saul was fearful lest the Philistines treat him in much the same way that they had treated Samson. He had shown no such concern for David, but had plotted at one time to have him fall into the hands of the uncircumcised Philistines (ch. 18:21-25).

Feel upon it. Like Judas, he took his own life. Perhaps, influenced by the tauntings of the evil spirit that he was going to die, he lost his reason and sought suicide in order to escape enemy abuse.

Opinions differ as to the exact method of his death. Presumably basing his narrative on the Amalekite’s story (2 Sam. 1:1-10), Josephus says that the Amalekite actually killed him when he found him still alive after falling on his sword (Antiquities vi. 14. 7). However, it appears evident that the young man invented his story for the purpose of winning the approbation of David (see PP 682, 695).

By SdaBc