Bible Strands
1 Samuel 31:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the decisive moment at Mount Gilboa when the Philistine army engages the Israelite forces. The account captures the immediate tactical collapse of Saul’s troops as they are routed by their opponents.
The words — The verb נִלְחָמִ֣ם (nil.cha.Mim) literally means "were fighting," establishing the active engagement. The verb וַ/יָּנֻ֜סוּ (va/i.ya.Nu.su) translates as "and they fled," marking the sudden reversal of the battle's momentum.
The thread — The opening clause repeats verbatim in 1 Chronicles 10:1 as a parallel historical record. The battle's location and outcome are later referenced in 1 Samuel 28:4 and mourned in 2 Samuel 1:21.
Why it lands — The text states the factual outcome of the engagement before noting the causal sequence of flight and slaughter. It demands recognition that military defeat follows the collapse of leadership and divine favor.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 10:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
- 1 Samuel 28:4 The Philistines gathered together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.
- 2 Samuel 1:21 O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
- 1 Samuel 12:25 But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”
- 1 Samuel 28:1 Now in those days the Philistines gathered their forces for warfare against Israel. So Achish said to David, “You must understand that you and your men are to go out to battle with me.”
- 1 Samuel 28:15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
- 1 Samuel 29:1 Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.