Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Samuel 31:2
And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons.
2. Saul’s sons ] See 1Sa 14:49. There is a tragic pathos in the simplicity of the account. Cp. 1Sa 31:6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. Followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons] They, seeing the discomfiture of their troops, were determined to sell their lives as dear as possible, and therefore maintained the battle till the three brothers were slain.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Philistines slew Jonathan, Davids dear friend; God so ordering it for the further exercise of Davids faith and patience; and that David might depend upon God alone for his crown, and receive it solely from him, and not from Jonathan; who doubtless, had he lived, would have speedily settled the crown upon Davids head, which would have in some sort eclipsed the glory of Gods grace and power in this work. There was also a special providence of God in taking away Jonathan, (who of all Sauls sons seems to have been the fairest for the crown,) for the preventing divisions, which have happened amongst the people concerning the successor; Davids way to the crown being by this means made the more clear.
Abinadab, called also Ishui, 1Sa 14:49. Ish-bosheth was not here, being possibly at home, for the management of public affairs there.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul,…. Stuck to him, pushed him close, bore hard upon him in that part of the army where he was having a design upon his person:
and upon his sons; who were with him:
and the Philistines slew Jonathan; who is mentioned first, being the eldest son, and perhaps first slain; and this was so ordered by the providence of God, that David’s way to the throne might be more clear and easy; for though Jonathan would not have opposed him himself, yet the people, fond of him, would, at least many of them, been for setting him on the throne; and though he would have refused it, knowing David was the Lord’s anointed, and have made interest for him, this would have looked as if he had made him king, and not the Lord:
and Abinadab and Malchishua, Saul’s sons; these also were slain; former of these is called Ishui, 1Sa 14:49; Ishbosheth either was not in the battle, being left at home, as unfit for war, or to take care of the kingdom; or else he fled with Abner, and others, and escaped, and who was to be a trial to David.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons.The details of the battle are but seen in broken snatches, as in the short scene of a battle acted upon the stage, or beheld at remote glimpses by an accidental spectator. But amidst the showers of arrows from the Philistine archers, or pressed hard even on the mountain side by their charioteers, the figure of the king emerges from the darkness. His three sons have fallen before him; his armourbearer lies dead beside him.Stanley: Jewish Church, Lect. 21
And the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchi-shua, Sauls sons.But while, in his own record of the national disaster, the compiler or historian, in his stern sorrow, expunges every detail, and represses every expression of feeling, he gives us in the next chapter (2Sa. 1:1-27) the stately elegy, in the beautiful moving words which the successor to the throne wrote on the death of the first king and his heroic son. Without comment he copies into his record the hymn of David on Saul and Jonathan, just as he found it in the Book of Jashar (the collection of national odes celebrating the heroes of the Theocracy). There David speaks of the Saul of earlier timesthe mighty conqueror, the delight of his people, the father of his beloved and faithful friendlike him in life, united with him in death. (Stanley).
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives
And in their death they were not divided.
Than eagles they were swifter, than lions more strong.
(2Sa. 1:23.) From the lost Book of Jashar.
Nothing is known of the two younger princes who fell fighting here by their fathers side, sword in hand against the enemies of their country.
The hero Jonathan and his two brave brothers, as far as we can gather from the scanty details of the battle after the army was routed in the valley of Jezreel, retreated (fighting all the while) to the hill of Gilboa. There, it seems, they made the last stand with the fideles of the royal house of Saul (1Sa. 31:6), and there, no doubt defending the king to the last, they fell.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons When Saul and his sons saw the people flying they probably placed themselves in the thickest of the battle, and sought, as by the last efforts of despair, to turn the tide of the Philistines’ victory. Thus they exposed themselves to death.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
1Sa 31:2. And the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, &c. Ish-bosheth probably either was not in the battle, or escaped by flight. Thus the prediction of Samuel was fulfilled. But who can forbear to drop a tear over the faithful, the amiable, the excellent Jonathan. There are few characters among men more lovely, or more extraordinary: fortitude, fidelity, magnanimity; a soul susceptible of the most refined friendship, and superior to all the temptations of ambition and vanity; and all these accomplishments crowned with the most resigned submission to the will of God.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Sa 31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.
Ver. 2. And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul. ] Heb., Clave to him; sat close upon his skirts: fighting neither against small nor great, so much as against him, as their capital enemy, the destroyer of their country, that had slain many of them, as Jdg 16:24 .
And the Philistines slew Jonathan.
And Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.] All whom, and many more of his dear friends, Saul lived to see slain before him, for his greater punishment. And the like befell Mauritius, the emperor – a far better man – who made a better use of it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Abinadab. Called Ishui (1Sa 14:49).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
followed: 1Sa 14:22, 2Sa 1:6
Jonathan: 1Sa 13:2, 1Sa 13:16, 1Sa 14:1-14, 1Sa 14:49, 1Sa 18:1-4, 1Sa 23:17, 1Ch 8:33, 1Ch 9:39
Saul’s sons: Exo 20:5, 2Ki 25:7
Reciprocal: 1Sa 20:16 – Let the Lord 1Ki 14:1 – the son 1Ch 10:1 – the Philistines fought Psa 35:8 – into Pro 17:13 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Sa 31:2. The Philistines slew Jonathan Davids dear friend; God so ordering it for the further exercise of Davids faith and patience; and that David might depend upon God alone for his crown, and receive it solely from him, and not from Jonathan; who, doubtless, had he lived, would have speedily settled the crown upon Davids head. There was also a special providence of God in taking away Jonathan, (who, of all Sauls sons, seems to have been the fairest for the crown,) for preventing divisions, which might have happened among the people concerning the successor: Davids way to the crown being by this means made the more clear. Abinadab Called also Ishui, 1Sa 14:49. Ish-bosheth was not here, being possibly at home for the management of affairs there. Thus the prediction of Samuel was fulfilled: but who can forbear dropping a tear over the faithful, the amiable, the excellent Jonathan? There are few characters among men more lovely or more extraordinary than his: fortitude, fidelity, magnanimity! a soul susceptible of the most refined friendship, and superior to all the temptations of ambition and vanity! and all these crowned with the most resigned submission to the will of God. Delaney.