And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

King James Translators' Notes

and the archers: Heb. and the shooters, men with bows

hit...: Heb. found him

Scofield Reference Notes

[1] hit him

Cf. 2Sam 1:10 21:12. The order is:

(1) Saul is "hit"--wounded mortally, potentially "slain," by the Philistines;

(2) either to escape agony, or insult by the enemy, he falls upon his sword, and his armour-bearer, supposing him to be dead, slew himself;

(3) but Saul was not dead; raising himself upon his spear, he besought the Amalekite to put him to death. 2Sam 1:10 21:12.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3-5. the battle went sore against Saul, &c.-He seems to have bravely maintained his ground for some time longer; but exhausted with fatigue and loss of blood, and dreading that if he fell alive into the enemy's hands, they would insolently maltreat him (Jos 8:29; 10:24; Jud 8:21), he requested his armor bearer to despatch him. However, that officer refused to do so. Saul then falling on the point of his sword killed himself; and the armor bearer, who, according to Jewish writers, was Doeg, following the example of his master, put an end to his life also. They died by one and the same sword-the very weapon with which they had massacred the Lord's servants at Nob.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

31:1-7 We cannot judge of the spiritual or eternal state of any by the manner 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 that 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 serious consideration of its sinfulness before God, and its miserable consequences in society. But our security is not in ourselves. Let us seek protection from Him who keepeth Israel. Let us watch and pray; and take unto us the whole armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.