31:4 uncircumcised. See note 14:6.

Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. While some praise Saul’s action as worthy of a tragic hero, the tenor of the books of Samuel points in another direction. To be commended are those who like David in times of distress find strength in God (23:16; 30:6), and who like Jonathan yield fully to His will (18:4, 28, 29; 19:4; 20:31; 23:17 and notes).