שמואל א, פרק ל״א, פסוק ו׳

The tragic fall of the king brings devastation not only to his immediate family but also to his loyal entourage. The total loss of life surrounding Saul on Mount Gilboa is specifically contained to his inner circle. Rather than indicating the complete destruction of the entire army, the casualties were limited to his devoted servants who carried out his will [מצודת דוד] and the men stationed directly at his side during the fighting.

While this dedicated group perished together on that day, the broader military forces experienced a different fate. Soldiers positioned further away from the king's immediate location managed to flee the battlefield [רד״ק]. Furthermore, several notable figures from Saul's camp successfully escaped the conflict and survived the defeat [ביאור שטיינזלץ].