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1 Samuel 31:10

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 31:10 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
1 Samuel 31:10 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 31

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
7And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8And 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.
9And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings unto the house of their idols, and to the people.
10And they put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
11And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him that which the Philistines had done to Saul,
12all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
13And they took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
← 1 Samuel 31:91 Samuel 31:11 →
← Full Chapter 31 1 Samuel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth, etc.] A temple dedicated to their deities, called by this name; of which (see Gill on “<070213>Judges 2:13”); Nothing was more common with the Gentiles than to place in their temples the arms they took from their enemies, as is strongly expressed by Homer f573 and Virgil f574; and indeed the Jews did the same, as appears by the sword of Goliath being laid up in the tabernacle, (<092109>1 Samuel 21:9). Here also the Heathens f575 hung up their own arms when the war was ended: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan; which Josephus f576 says is the same which in his time was called Scythopolis, from the Scythians that possessed it,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“to the wall-- (Sa2 21:12) --"the street" of Beth-shan. The street was called from the temple which stood in it. And they had to go along it to the wall of the city (see Jos 17:11).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In the house of Ashtaroth - This was doubtless the famous temple of Venus in Askelon mentioned by Herodotus as the most ancient of all her temples. Hence, the special mention of Askelon 2 Samuel 1:20. The placing Saul’s armour as a trophy in the temple of Ashtaroth was a counterpart to the placing Goliath’s sword in the tabernacle 1 Samuel 21:9. In 1 Chronicles 10:10 it is added that they “fastened Saul’s head in the temple of Dagon,” probably either in Gaza Judges 16:21, or in Ashdod 1 Samuel 5:1-3. This was, perhaps, in retaliation for the similar treatment of Goliath’s head 1 Samuel 17:54. The variations seem to imply that both this narrative and that in 1 Chronicles 10:1-14 are compiled…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“31:10 the Ashtoreths: See 7:3. • fastened his body: This practice further degraded the executed person by depriving him of proper burial. It also served as a deterrent to other potential enemies (see also Gen 40:19; Deut 21:21-22; Josh 10:26; Esth 9:6-14). • Beth-shan was a short distance east of Mount Gilboa.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“they put: The Philistines placed the armour of Saul in the temple of Ashtaroth as a trophy of victory, and a testimony of their gratitude, in the same manner as David placed the sword of Goliath in the tabernacle. Sa1 21:9 Ashtaroth: Jdg 2:13 Bethshan: Jos 17:11; Jdg 1:27; Sa2 21:12-14 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 31:11”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification