=1.= _in mount Gilboa_] In the campaign of Gilboa the Philistines showed new and skilful strategy. Instead of at once marching eastward up the ravines which lead into Judah and Benjamin――in which there was no room for their chariots (2 Samuel i. 6) to manœuvre――they first marched northward along the sea-coast and then turned eastward just before reaching Mount Carmel. This movement brought them into the great fertile plain watered by the Kishon, ground over which chariots could act with decisive effect. At the north-east end of the plain rose the heights of Gilboa. When Saul and his Benjamites advanced to meet the Philistines, the latter succeeded in interposing themselves between the Israelite army and its base in Benjamin――an easy achievement for an enemy who by his chariots possessed a high degree of mobility. Saul was therefore driven to take up his position on the _north_ side of the plain on Mount Gilboa, where he was attacked by the Philistines, probably from the south-west on which side the slopes of the mountain are comparatively gentle. The Israelites, cut off from their homes, outmarched, outgeneralled, and probably outnumbered, were speedily routed. The battle of Gilboa was won, like that of Hastings, by cavalry (chariots) and archers (verse 3) against infantry, which was obliged to stand on the defensive, under pain of being cut to pieces if it ventured to attack. See G. A. Smith, _Historical Geography of the Holy Land_, pp. 400 ff. ²And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab¹, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. ³And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed by reason of the archers. ¹ In 1 Samuel xiv. 49, _Ishvi_. =2.= _Malchi-shua_] This is the correct spelling, not _Melchi-shua_. ⁴Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse¹ me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it. ⁵And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died. ¹ Or, _make a mock of me_. =4.= _unto his armourbearer_] Compare Judges ix. 54 (the death of Abimelech). One function of an armourbearer was to give the “coup de grâce” to fallen enemies (1 Samuel xiv. 13), but sometimes the same office had to be executed for friends. Possibly the man refused from fear of blood-revenge, which would be the more certainly exacted in the case of the Lord’s Anointed, compare 1 Samuel ii. 22, xxvi. 9 (so Curtis). _and abuse me_] i.e. wreak their cruel will upon me; compare Judges i. 6. ⁶So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together. =6.= _all his house_] In Samuel “his armourbearer and all his men.” The reference may be to Saul’s servants: his family was not exterminated in this battle.