And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.

And the whole weight of the battle was turned upon Saul: and the archers overtook him, and he was grievously wounded by the archers.

And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers came up with him; and he was much terrified by the archers.

And the battle was severe against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was severely wounded by the archers.

And the battle is hard against Saul, and the archers find him, men with bow, and he is pained greatly by the archers;

And the fight was going badly for Saul, and the archers came across him, and he was wounded by the archers.

And the battle went sore against Saul, an the archers overtook him; and he was in great anguish by reason of the archers.

And the entire weight of the battle was turned against Saul. And the men who were archers pursued him. And he was severely wounded by the archers.

He was sore wounded - Better, "he was sore afraid" (compare Deuteronomy 2:25). Saul's fear is explained in 1-Samuel 31:4.

He was sore wounded of the archers - It is likely that Saul's sons were slain by the archers, and that Saul was now mortally wounded by the same. Houbigant translates, The archers rushed upon him, from whom he received a grievous wound. He farther remarks that had not Saul been grievously wounded, and beyond hope of recovery, he would not have wished his armor-bearer to despatch him; as he might have continued still to fight, or have made his escape from this most disastrous battle. Some of the versions render it, He Feared the archers greatly; but this is by no means likely.

And the battle went sore against Saul,.... Pressed heavy upon him; he was the butt of the Philistines, they aimed at his person and life:
and the archers hit him; or "found him" (a); the place where was, and directed their arrows at him:
and he was sore wounded of the archers; or rather "he was afraid" of them, as the Targum, for as yet he was not wounded; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, and is the sense Kimchi and Ben Melech give of the word: he was not afraid of death, as Abarbinel observes, he chose to die; but he was afraid he should be hit by the archers in such a way that he should not die immediately, and should be taken alive and ill used; the Philistines, especially the Cherethites, were famous for archery; See Gill on Zephaniah 2:5.
(a) "et inveserust cum", Pagninus, Montanus.

the battle went sore against Saul, &c.--He seems to have bravely maintained his ground for some time longer; but exhausted with fatigue and loss of blood, and dreading that if he fell alive into the enemy's hands, they would insolently maltreat him (Joshua 8:29; Joshua 10:24; Judges 8:21), he requested his armor bearer to despatch him. However, that officer refused to do so. Saul then falling on the point of his sword killed himself; and the armor bearer, who, according to Jewish writers, was Doeg, following the example of his master, put an end to his life also. They died by one and the same sword--the very weapon with which they had massacred the Lord's servants at Nob.