1 Samuel 31:1
ESV
Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
NIV
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.
NASB
Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from the Philistines but fell fatally wounded on Mount Gilboa.
CSB
The Philistines fought against Israel, and Israel’s men fled from them and were killed on Mount Gilboa.
NLT
Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.
KJV
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
NKJV
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
What does 1 Samuel 31:1 mean?
Facing the massive armies of the Philistines from his perch on Mount Gilboa, King Saul had recognized that his prospects were grim (1 Samuel 28:5). Since he had no other way to hear from the Lord, he had traveled to the home of a medium. There, he asked her to call up the spirit of the prophet Samuel from the dead (1 Samuel 28:14). Samuel did appear, but he offered Saul no comfort, telling the king the Lord had become his enemy and that he and his sons would die the next day (1 Samuel 28:16–19).Now the day of the battle has come. The Philistines attack and overwhelm the Israelites at Mount Gilboa with great force, beginning what would become a rout and slaughter.
God's relationship with Israel was unique. He told them that if they didn't obey Him, He would discipline them, including allowing them to fall to their enemies. The covenant the Israelites made with God says that if they rebel against God, "The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth" (Deuteronomy 28:25). God doesn't need Israel to be a mighty army to beat the Philistines (Judges 7). He allows the Israelites to lose for a specific purpose: to judge Saul. Because of the king's sin, the nation suffers.
