John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 7. And which the men of Israel that [were] on the other side of the valley , etc.] The valley of Jezreel; of which (see Gill on “ Hosea 1:5”); and [they] that [were] on the other side Jordan ; or rather “on that side”; for the phrase will bear to be rendered either way, and so may mean that side of Jordan on which the battle was fought; for as for the other side, or that beyond it, the Israelites there could not be in such fear of the Philistines, nor do we ever read of their inhabiting any cities there; though as the phrase is used of the valley, as well as of the river, it may be rendered “about the valley, [and] about Jordan” f571 , and so describes such that dwelt near to each of them: saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead ; that is, had information and intelligence of those facts, for it is not to be supposed they saw them with their eyes: they forsook, the cities, and fled ; fearing they should be put to the sword, or carried captive: and the Philistines came and dwelt them ; having nothing more to do than to come and take possession.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - We cannot judge of the spiritual or eternal state of any by the manne of their death; for in that, there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked. Saul, when sorely wounded, and unable to resist or to flee expressed no concern about his never-dying soul; but only desired tha the Philistines might not insult over him, or put him to pain, and he became his own murderer. As it is the grand deceit of the devil, to persuade sinners, under great difficulties, to fly to this last act of desperation, it is well to fortify the mind against it, by a seriou consideration of its sinfulness before God, and its miserabl consequences in society. But our security is not in ourselves. Let u seek protection from Him who keepeth Israel. Let us watch and pray; an take unto us the whole armour of God, that we may be able to withstan in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Original Hebrew ויראו7200 אנשׁי376 ישׂראל3478 אשׁר834 בעבר5676 העמק6010 ואשׁר834 בעבר5676 הירדן3383 כי3588 נסו5127 אנשׁי376 ישׂראל3478 וכי3588 מתו4191 שׁאול7586 ובניו1121 ויעזבו5800 את853 הערים5892 וינסו5127 ויבאו935 פלשׁתים6430 וישׁבו׃3427
