1 Samuel 31:1

1 Samuel 31:1-7. The death of Saul on Mount Gilboa

1. The narrative of this chapter has been inserted by the compiler of Chronicles in his work (1 Chronicles 10:1-12) with only a few verbal variations.

Now the Philistines The notices of the Philistine muster in 1 Samuel 28:4; 1 Samuel 29:1; 1 Samuel 29:11 have prepared the way for the account of the battle.

Four battles memorable in the history of Israel were fought in or near the plain of Esdraelon "the great battlefield of Palestine."

(1) The battle of Kishon, in which Deborah and Barak defeated the host of Sisera (Judges 4:15; Judges 5:21).

(2) The battle of Jezreel, in which Gideon's three hundred routed the vast horde of Midianites (Judges 7).

(3) The disastrous battle of Mount Gilboa recorded here.

(4) The battle of Megiddo, where Josiah lost his life fighting against Pharaoh Necho.

(5) A fifth may be added, the battle of Hattîn, on the fifth of July, 1187, "the last struggle of the Crusaders, in which all was staked in the presence of the holiest scenes of Christianity, and all miserably lost." See Stanley's Sin. and Pal. p. 335 ff., 369.

the men of Israel fled Probably the battle took place in the plain of Jezreel; the men of Israel were driven back on their camp, and finally fled in confusion up the heights of Gilboa, pursued by the Philistines.