Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 10:4

Then said Saul to his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armorbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

4. to his armourbearer ] Cp. Jdg 9:54 (the death of Abimelech). One function of an armourbearer was to give the “coup de grce” to fallen enemies (1Sa 14:13), but sometimes the same office had to be executed for friends.

and abuse me ] i.e. wreak their cruel will upon me; cp. Jdg 1:6.

a sword ] R.V. his sword.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1Ch 10:4

Drew thy sword, and thrust me through.

Suicide as illustrated by the case of Saul

I. Causes.

1. Not merely accumulated misfortune, but long-continued wrongdoing.

2. Cowardly fear of suffering.

3. Caring more for disgrace than for sin.

4. Abandonment of trust of God as to this life and to the future life.

II. Effects.–

1. Others led by the example into the same folly and sin.

2. Personal dishonour not really prevented.

3. A crowning and lasting reproach to the mans memory. (J. P. Lange.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

4. his armour-bearer would not; forhe was sore afraidHe was, of course, placed in the sameperilous condition as Saul. But it is probable that the feelings thatrestrained him from complying with Saul’s wish were a profoundrespect for royalty, mingled with apprehension of the shock whichsuch a catastrophe would give to the national feelings and interests.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

[See comments on 1Sa 31:4]

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(4) And Saul said.So Abimelech (Jdg. 9:54).

Lest these uncircumcised come.Sam. Adds and thrust me through. An inadvertent repetition there, or omission here, is possible. Or, we might say, Saul preferred death by a friendly stroke to the thrusts of insulting foemen.

And abuse me.The Hebrew means, strictly, to make a toy of, sport with. How I have made a toy of Egypt (Exo. 10:2); and is used (Jer. 38:19) of insulting a fallen foe, as here.

Took a sword.Literally, the swordi.e., his sword.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

1Ch 10:4 Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

Ver. 4. Lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. ] Heb., Mock me. He was more solicitous about his own glory than the glory of God and salvation of his poor soul.

But his armourbearer would not. ] The like unhappiness befell Nero, who hearing that the senate had proclaimed him a public enemy to mankind, and condemned him to be whipped to death, entreated that some one of those that were with him would kill him; which when they refused to do, he cried out, Itaque nec amicum habeo nec inimicure: What I have I neither friend nor foe to do me this last good office? and so struck himself through with his own sword, and was a horrible spectacle to all beholders. a

So Saul took a sword. ] A just hand of God upon him for his cruelty at Nob and other places. Per quod quis peccat, per idem punitur.

a Aurel. Victor. Sueton.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

abuse = insult, or mock.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

Draw: Jdg 9:54

uncircumcised: Jdg 15:18, 1Sa 14:6, 1Sa 17:26, 1Sa 17:36, 2Sa 1:20

abuse: or mock, Jdg 16:21, Jdg 16:23-25

he was: 1Sa 31:4, 2Sa 1:14-16

Saul took: 1Ch 10:5, 2Sa 1:9, 2Sa 1:10, 2Sa 17:23, 1Ki 16:18, Mat 27:4, Mat 27:5, Act 1:18, Act 16:27

Reciprocal: 1Ch 10:9 – took Eze 32:25 – all of them

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge