1 Samuel 31:1

1 Samuel 31:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
• New International Version (NIV)Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

Context of 1 Samuel 31:1

When the Philistines were fighting against Israel, the men of Israel fled from the Philistines and were killed in battle on Mount Gilboa. 2The Philistines caught up to Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 3The heaviest fighting was against Saul. When the archers got him in their range, he was badly wounded by them.

1 Samuel 31:1 word by word

וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים נִלְחָמִ֣ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּנֻ֜סוּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים וַיִּפְּל֥וּ חֲלָלִ֖ים בְּהַ֥ר הַגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• foughtלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
• against Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• and the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• fledנוּסnûs · to fleeH5127
• from beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• and fell downנָפַלnâphal · to fall: killH5307
• slainחָלָלchâlâl · slain: killedH2491
• in mountהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
• Gilboaגִּלְבֹּעַgilbôa‛ · (Mount) GilboaH1533

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 31:1

• 1 Samuel 28:1At that time the Philistines had gathered their army to fight against Israel. Then Achish said to David, “You need to know that you and your men will be going with me into battle.”
• 1 Samuel 29:1The Philistines assembled their whole army at Aphek, and Israel camped at the spring in Jezreel.
• 1 Samuel 12:25But if you go on doing what is evil, you and your king will be wiped out.”
• 1 Chronicles 10:1When the Philistines fought against Israel, the men of Israel fled from the Philistines and were killed in battle on Mount Gilboa.
• 1 Samuel 28:4The Philistines assembled and camped in Shunem. Saul also assembled the whole Israelite army, and they camped at Gilboa.
• 2 Samuel 1:21You mountains in Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you or on your slopes, because warriors’ shields were tarnished there. Saul’s shield was never rubbed with olive oil.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 31:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Now the Philistines fought - This is the continuation of the account given in 1 Samuel 29:1-11. The men of Israel fled - It seems as if they were thrown into confusion at the first onset, and turned their backs upon their enemies.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Saul's defeat and death. (1-7) Saul's body rescued by the men of Jabesh-gilead. (8-13) Verses 1-7 We cannot judge of the spiritual or eternal state of any by the manner of their death; for in that, there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked. Saul, when sorely wounded, and unable to resist or to flee, expressed no concern about his never-dying soul; but only desired that the Philistines might not insult over him, or put him to pain, and he…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The Israelites fled southeast from the Valley of Jezreel (1 Samuel 29:1) to higher and hillier areas. With their chariots, the Philistines had the advantage in the more level valley. Mount Gilboa is southwest of the Sea of Galilee, far from the territory of the Philistines.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-71Sa 31:1-7. Saul Having Lost His Army at Gilboa, and His Sons Being Slain, He and His Armor-bearer Kill Themselves. 1. Now the Philistines fought against Israel--In a regular engagement, in which the two armies met (1Sa 28:1-4), the Israelites were forced to give way, being annoyed by the arrows of the enemy, which, destroying them at a distance before they came to close combat, threw them into panic and disorder. Taking advantage of the heights of Mount…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 31:1

• Archery
• Gilboa
• Jezreel

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Philistines
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Gilboa
• Hit
• Jezreel, Valley of
• Achish
• Chronicles, Books of
• Esdraelon, Plain of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings