שמואל א, פרק ל״א, פסוק ה׳

The final moments on Mount Gilboa reveal not only a tragic defeat but also the ultimate display of loyalty from a close servant. Seeing the king's fate, the armor-bearer tied his own destiny to his master, choosing to end his life rather than continue alone. Because the king was his entire world, the servant could not bear the thought of living without him [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He chose to accompany his master in death just as he had faithfully served him in life. As a result, the king departed from this world surrounded by his sons and devoted servants, mirroring the very way he had led them during his reign [אברבנאל].

The exact moment the king passed away remains a subject of discussion. One perspective suggests that after falling on his sword, he was critically wounded and dying, but not yet fully dead. In this scenario, it was the Amalekite youth who ultimately ended his life, just as the youth later claimed to David [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. On the other hand, a different view maintains that the king died immediately from his own sword. According to this understanding, the Amalekite simply found the lifeless body and invented the story of killing the king in order to win David's favor [רד״ק].

The king's desperate choice to end his own life raises a significant question regarding the strict prohibition against suicide. While taking one's own life is normally considered a sin, this specific act is viewed as a rare exception and is not considered a transgression. The justification lies in a unique set of circumstances. The king already knew from Samuel's prophecy that he was destined to die in this very battle. When he saw the enemy archers closing in and realized all chances of escape were gone, he chose to take his own life rather than fall alive into the hands of the Philistines, who would certainly torture and abuse him [רד״ק].