1 Samuel 31:2

31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. slain: or, wounded

And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.

KJV

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The Philistines overtook Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi–shua, Saul’s sons.

And the Philistines followed hard on Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul’s sons.

31:3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. and the archers: Heb. and the shooters, men with bows hit: Heb. found him

What does 1 Samuel 31:2 mean?

1 Samuel 31:2 is a verse in the book of 1 Samuel, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy), דָּבַק (dâbaq), שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl). It connects to 3 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

the

PhilistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיPᵉlishtîy/pel-ish-tee'/H6430a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth

followed

hardדָּבַקdâbaq/daw-bak'/H1692properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit

upon

SaulשָׁאוּלShâʼûwl/shaw-ool'/H7586Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites

and

upon

his

sons;בֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

and

the

PhilistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיPᵉlishtîy/pel-ish-tee'/H6430a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth

slewנָכָהnâkâh/naw-kaw'/H5221to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

Jonathan,יְהוֹנָתָןYᵉhôwnâthân/yeh-ho-naw-thawn'/H3083Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites

and

Abinadab,אֲבִינָדָבʼĂbîynâdâb/ab-ee-naw-dawb'/H41Abinadab, the name of four Israelites

and

Malchishua,מַלְכִּישׁוּעַMalkîyshûwaʻ/mal-kee-shoo'-ah/H4444Malkishua, an Israelite

Saul'sשָׁאוּלShâʼûwl/shaw-ool'/H7586Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites

sons.בֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

Commentary on 1 Samuel 31:2

HENRY_FULL · 1 Samuel 31:2

x-p" We have hitherto had Saul seeking an opportunity to destroy David, and, to his shame, he could never find it. In this chapter David had a fair opportunity to destroy Saul, and, to his honour, he did not make use of it; and his sparing Saul's life was as great an instance of God's grace in him as the preserving of his own life was of God's providence over him. Observe, I. How maliciously Saul sought David's life, ver. 1, 2 . II. How generously David saved Saul's life (when he had him at an advantage) and only cut off the skirt of his robe, ver. 3-8 . III. How pathetically he reasoned with Saul, upon this to bring him to a better temper towards him, ver. 9-15 . IV. The good impression this made upon Saul for the present, ver. 16-22 . David Spares S

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Samuel 13:2

Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

Psalms 37:32

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

Psalms 38:12

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

Topics

Abinadab Gilboa Melchishua Philistines

People & places in this verse

People

Saul Jonathan

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Samuel 31:2.

1 Chronicles 10:2

And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. Abinadab: also called, Ishui.I.Sam.14.49.

1 Chronicles 8:33

And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. Eshbaal: or, Ishbosheth.Sam.2.8

1 Chronicles 9:39

And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Samuel 31:2 say?

1 Samuel 31:2 (King James Version) reads: "And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons."

Is 1 Samuel 31:2 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Samuel 31:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Samuel.

Reflect

As you read 1 Samuel 31:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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