1 Samuel 31:8
And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיְהִי֙
H1961
וַֽיְהִי֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 16
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת
And it came to pass on the morrow
H4283
מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת
And it came to pass on the morrow
Strong's:
H4283
Word #:
2 of 16
the morrow or (adverbially) tomorrow
פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים
when the Philistines
H6430
פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים
when the Philistines
Strong's:
H6430
Word #:
4 of 16
a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth
לְפַשֵּׁ֖ט
to strip
H6584
לְפַשֵּׁ֖ט
to strip
Strong's:
H6584
Word #:
5 of 16
to spread out (i.e., deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e., unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַֽחֲלָלִ֑ים
the slain
H2491
הַֽחֲלָלִ֑ים
the slain
Strong's:
H2491
Word #:
7 of 16
pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted
וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ
that they found
H4672
וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ
that they found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
8 of 16
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
11 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת
and his three
H7969
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת
and his three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
12 of 16
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
בָּנָ֔יו
sons
H1121
בָּנָ֔יו
sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
13 of 16
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
נֹֽפְלִ֖ים
fallen
H5307
נֹֽפְלִ֖ים
fallen
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
14 of 16
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
Historical Context
Stripping the dead was standard practice after ancient battles. Armor, weapons, and jewelry were valuable spoils. The delay of a day before Philistine looting suggests they secured the battlefield before searching corpses.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the exposure of the dead to enemy discovery reveal about the completeness of defeat?
- How do the honored become dishonored when they fall outside God's protection?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The Philistine discovery of the royal corpses the day after the battle enables their desecration. The Hebrew 'lepashet' (to strip) indicates removal of valuable armor and weapons. Finding Saul and his sons 'fallen in mount Gilboa' completes the geographic note: they died where the battle raged, not fleeing. The exposure of their bodies to enemy discovery sets the stage for the humiliations to follow.