3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.
3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.
3 The battle was hot and heavy around Saul. The archers got his range and wounded him badly.
3 The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.
3 The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 31:3
Commentary on 1 Samuel 31:1-7
(Read 1 Samuel 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.