1 Samuel 31:6
ESV
Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.
NIV
So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.
NASB
So Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men on that day together.
CSB
So on that day, Saul died together with his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men.
NLT
So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day.
KJV
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
NKJV
So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day.
What does 1 Samuel 31:6 mean?
God's curses on Saul followed a progression. Early in his reign, Saul gave a burnt offering instead of waiting for Samuel. Samuel gave Saul God's message: Saul's kingdom would not endure. At some point, Saul's descendants would lose the crown to another (1 Samuel 13:13–14). But there was hope that generations of his sons might rule after him.Later, Saul disobeyed God's order to destroy the Amalekites, including their animals. Saul let the soldiers keep the best animals and took the king captive. Samuel rebuked him and told him God had completely rejected him. His son would not be king; the throne would go to another (1 Samuel 15:27). But there was hope that Saul would die peacefully.
That hope is gone. Saul continued to sin, even using a medium to call Samuel back from the dead. Samuel gave Saul a final warning: "the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines" (1 Samuel 28:19, ESV). Now the prophecy happens exactly. Saul and three of his sons are killed, along with his armor-bearer and "all his men," perhaps meaning all fighting for Israel in Saul's vicinity. Israel is thoroughly defeated.
