1 Chronicles 10 4

1 Chronicles 10:4 kjv

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.

1 Chronicles 10:4 nkjv

Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and abuse me." But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.

1 Chronicles 10:4 niv

Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me." But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

1 Chronicles 10:4 esv

Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.

1 Chronicles 10:4 nlt

Saul groaned to his armor bearer, "Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to taunt and torture me." But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

1 Chronicles 10 verses

1 Chronicles 10 4 Meaning

1 Chronicles 10:4 describes the final, tragic moments of King Saul's life on Mount Gilboa after a decisive defeat by the Philistines. Facing imminent capture and fearing profound humiliation and abuse at the hands of his uncircumcised enemies, Saul commanded his armor-bearer to kill him. When his loyal but terrified armor-bearer refused this desperate plea, Saul, unwilling to suffer disgrace, took his own sword and fell upon it, thereby ending his own life. This act highlights Saul's despair, pride, and the desperate lengths he went to avoid the ultimate dishonor from those who did not worship the Lord.

1 Chronicles 10 4 Context

1 Chronicles 10 inaugurates the Chronicler's history of Israel, specifically focusing on the lineage and reign of King David, by first recounting the defeat and death of King Saul. This chapter serves as a theological bridge, explaining the definitive end of Saul's rule as a result of his persistent disobedience and highlighting the divine appointment of David to the throne. The battle described took place on Mount Gilboa, a catastrophic loss for Israel where Saul and his three sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua—were killed. Verse 4 details Saul's personal decision to end his life, driven by a deep-seated fear of humiliation and mistreatment by the pagan Philistines. The narrative here directly parallels 1 Samuel 31, providing the immediate backstory for the rise of David, who is presented as God's chosen king. For the Chronicler's post-exilic audience, Saul's tragic end served as a poignant lesson on the consequences of rebellion against the Lord and emphasized the importance of faithful adherence to God's covenant, validating David's dynasty.

1 Chronicles 10 4 Word analysis

• Then Saul said (וַיֹּאמֶר שָׁאוּל - wayyōʾmer Šāʾûl): Indicates a direct address, setting the stage for a critical and desperate command from the king.

• to his armor-bearer (אֶל־נֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו - ʾel-nōśēʾ kēlāyw): A highly trusted, personal attendant, often carrying the king's weapons and positioned close to him in battle. This person was typically a younger man (see Judg 9:54) bound by loyalty.

• Draw your sword (שְׁלֹף חַרְבְּךָ - šlōf ḥarbekā): Shalaf (שָׁלַף) means "to draw out, unsheathe." A direct command for immediate, decisive action. The sword (חֶרֶב - ḥerev) is an instrument of death, now demanded for suicide.

• and run me through (וְדָקְרֵנִי - wēdāqrēnī): Dāqar (דָּקַר) means "to pierce, thrust through." It conveys the desired immediate and fatal injury. This indicates Saul's urgency to die quickly.

• lest these uncircumcised (פֶּן יָבֹאוּ הָעֲרֵלִים - pen yāvoʾû hāʿărēlîm): Pen (פֶּן) implies a fear or negative consequence to be avoided. "Uncircumcised" (עֲרֵלִים - ʿărēlîm) is a deeply pejorative term used by Israelites for the Philistines and other Gentiles, emphasizing their foreignness, paganism, and lack of covenant with God. This term underscored their religious and cultural defilement from an Israelite perspective.

• come and abuse me (וְהִתְעַלְּלוּ בִי - wēhitʿallălû vî): Hitʿallelû (הִתְעַלְּלוּ) from the root ʿālal (עָלַל) in the Hithpael stem signifies "to mistreat, deal wantonly with, make sport of, mock, humiliate, or inflict suffering upon." Saul's fear was not just of death, but of being captured and subjected to public ridicule, torture, or even sexual violence—a profound dishonor for a king.

• But his armor-bearer would not (וְלֹא אָבָה נֹשֵׂא הַכֵּלִים - wēlōʾ ʾāvâ nōśēʾ hakkēlîm): ʾĀvah (אָבָה) means "to be willing, consent." The negation (lōʾ) emphasizes a firm refusal. This refusal stems from the immense fear of committing such an act, perhaps of defiling the king, fear of divine judgment for killing the anointed one, or out of terror of the advancing Philistines.

• for he was greatly afraid (כִּי יָרֵא מְאֹד - kî yārēʾ meʾōd): Yārēʾ (יָרֵא) means "to fear," and meʾōd (מְאֹד) means "greatly, very much." This highlights the overwhelming nature of the armor-bearer's terror, which outweighed his duty or the king's desperate plea.

• So Saul took his own sword (וַיִּקַּח שָׁאוּל אֶת־הַחֶרֶב - wayyiqqaḥ Šāʾûl ʾet-haḥerev): This denotes a deliberate and final act of self-determination in the face of despair. Saul retains control over his fate, however tragic.

• and fell on it (וַיִּפֹּל עָלֶיהָ - wayyippōl ʿāleyhā): Nāphal (נָפַל) means "to fall." This is the euphemistic biblical phrase for suicide by sword. It depicts a desperate and violent self-inflicted death.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "Draw your sword and run me through, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me.": This complete phrase reveals Saul's utter desperation driven by his deep-seated pride and fear of ultimate shame. He views dying by his own hand, or that of a loyal Israelite, as preferable to the inevitable, debasing humiliation at the hands of those considered ritually unclean and hostile. This motivation encapsulates his tragic, godless resolve in his final moments.
  • "But his armor-bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid.": This refusal by a loyal servant highlights the extreme nature of Saul's request and the profound aversion to such an act, whether out of moral conviction against regicide, or perhaps more immediately, terror of the circumstances and the advancing enemy, combined with fear of being punished for such an act. The fear is emphasized, not explicitly a moral objection to suicide, but it indirectly shows its severity.
  • "So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.": This climatic action underlines Saul's autonomy in his despair and his ultimate act of defiance against a humiliating capture. It signifies the tragic culmination of his reign—a self-willed end for a king who consistently disregarded God's will.

1 Chronicles 10 4 Bonus section

The Chronicler's primary source for this chapter is 1 Samuel 31, but by placing it at the beginning of his work (1 Chronicles begins after genealogical lists), he immediately sets the theological framework for the rest of his history. The emphasis is on Saul's death as divine judgment due to his unfaithfulness and seeking a medium, not the Lord. This narrative highlights the importance of obedience and reliance on God for righteous kingship, directly preceding the elevation of David. The dramatic suicide by sword was a culturally recognized, albeit extreme, way to avoid dishonor in the ancient Near East, which emphasizes the degree of humiliation Saul anticipated. This contrasts with the expectation for God's people to trust Him in all circumstances, even suffering, showing Saul's spiritual abandonment in his final moments.

1 Chronicles 10 4 Commentary

1 Chronicles 10:4 presents a vivid and poignant scene of King Saul's last stand, revealing the extent of his desperation and pride. Faced with the devastating defeat by the Philistines and the deaths of his sons, Saul chose self-execution rather than the profound disgrace of falling into the hands of his pagan enemies. The fear of being mocked and abused ("made sport of") by the uncircumcised, a term reflecting cultural and religious contempt, was more terrifying to Saul than death itself. This desperate act, following his long pattern of disobedience (summarized in 1 Chron 10:13-14), stands in stark contrast to reliance on God, illustrating the ultimate despair when divine counsel is rejected. The armor-bearer's refusal underscores the severity of the king's command, implying a reluctance rooted in fear or perhaps a recognition of the grave nature of taking an anointed life, even at request. Saul's subsequent act of falling on his own sword, while presented matter-of-factly, is depicted as the inevitable outcome of a king who continually trusted in himself rather than in the Lord, marking a tragic end to the first monarchy of Israel and clearing the way for God's chosen king, David.