Skip to reading
Atomic Bible
1 Samuel 31:3
When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
from Saul’s Overthrow and Death, 1 Samuel 31:1-6
What it says

As the fighting grows fierce around Saul, archers catch up to him and wound him severely.

What it is doing

It turns the battle from general defeat to Saul’s personal crisis.

In context

1Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. 3When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically. 4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” 5When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died with him. 6So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day.