1 Samuel 31:2

1 Samuel 31:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi–shua, Saul’s sons.
• New International Version (NIV)The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.

Context of 1 Samuel 31:2

1Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel. The men of Israel fled from the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. 3Saul himself was in the thick of the battle; the archers spotted him and wounded him severely. 4Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and stab me with it! Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come, stab me, and torture me.” But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.

1 Samuel 31:2 word by word

וַיַּדְבְּק֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים אֶת־שָׁא֖וּל וְאֶת־בָּנָ֑יו וַיַּכּ֣וּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים אֶת־יְהוֹנָתָ֧ן וְאֶת־אֲבִינָדָ֛ב וְאֶת־מַלְכִּי־שׁ֖וּעַ בְּנֵ֥י שָׁאֽוּל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• followed hardדָּבַקdâbaq · to cleaveH1692
• upon Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• and upon his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• slewנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• and Abinadabאֲבִינָדָב'ăbîynâdâb · AbinadabH41
• and Malchi–shuaמַלְכִּישׁוּעַmalkîyshûa‛ · Malchi-shuaH4444

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 31:2

• 1 Samuel 14:22When all the Israelites who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, they too pursued them in battle.
• 2 Samuel 1:6The young man who was telling him this said, “I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him.
• 1 Samuel 13:2Saul selected for himself three thousand men from Israel. Two thousand of these were with Saul at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel; the remaining thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. He sent all the rest of the people back home.
• 1 Samuel 14:1Then one day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to the Philistine garrison that is opposite us.” But he did not let his father know.
• 1 Samuel 18:1When David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship. Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life.
• 1 Samuel 23:17He said to him, “Don’t be afraid! For the hand of my father Saul cannot find you. You will rule over Israel, and I will be your second in command. Even my father Saul realizes this.”
• 1 Chronicles 8:33Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
• 1 Chronicles 9:39Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
• Exodus 20:5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me,
• 2 Kings 25:7Zedekiah’s sons were executed while Zedekiah was forced to watch. The king of Babylon then had Zedekiah’s eyes put out, bound him in bronze chains, and carried him off to Babylon.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 31:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons - They, seeing the discomfiture of their troops, were determined to sell their lives as dear as possible, and therefore maintained the battle till the three brothers were slain.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Jonathan … Malkishua: See 1 Samuel 14:49. This is the first mention of Saul’s son Abinadab (compare 1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39).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 31:2

• Abinadab
• Archery
• Gilboa
• Jezreel
• Jonathan
• Melchishua

In the dictionaries

• Jonathan
• Philistines
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Malchi-Shua
• Abinadab
• Gilboa
• Hit
• Jezreel, Valley of
• Malchishua

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