(7) That were in the valley.--Rather, the plain, in which the main battle was fought--that of Jezreel. Samuel has "that were on the other side of the plain, and on the other side of the Jordan." The curt phrase "who (dwelt) in the plain," may be compared with 1Chronicles 9:2. The people of the surrounding districts are meant; who, when they "saw that they" (viz., Saul's army, "the men of Israel," Samuel) "fled," or had been routed, deserted "their (Samuel, 'the,' perhaps a transposition of letters) cities" which were then occupied by the Philistines.

Dwelt in them.--The pronoun here is masculine, in Samuel, feminine, which is correct.

Verse 7. - In the valley. In place of these words, the parallel (1 Samuel 31:7) has, "On the other side of the valley, and.., on the other side Jordan." We have here a clear instance of the desire of the compiler of Chronicles to compress his narrative, while the fidelity of the parallel narrative is testi-fled in the naturalness of its statements, amounting to this, that, quick as the intelligence or report could reach all those Israelites who were at all within the range of the victorious Philistines, they hastened to vacate their abodes.

10:1-14 The death of Saul. - The design chiefly in view in these books of the Chronicles, appears to be to preserve the records of the house of David. Therefore the writer repeats not the history of Saul's reign, but only of his death, by which a way was made for David to the throne. And from the ruin of Saul, we may learn, 1. That the sin of sinners will certainly find them out, sooner or later; Saul died for his transgression. 2. That no man's greatness can exempt him from the judgments of God. 3. Disobedience is a killing thing. Saul died for not keeping the word of the Lord. May be delivered from unbelief, impatience, and despair. By waiting on the Lord we shall obtain a kingdom that cannot be moved.See Gill on 1 Samuel 31:1.