The death of Saul
Saul falls on his own sword while an Amalekite later claims to have killed him at his request — the Amalekite's lie for reward, or differing traditions.
1 Samuel 31:1-6
1Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.
2The Philistines overtook Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
3The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.
4Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me!” But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.
5When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him.
6So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, that same day together.
2 Samuel 1:1-16
1After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag;
2on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth, and showed respect.
3David said to him, “Where do you come from?” He said to him, “I have escaped out of the camp of Israel.”
4David said to him, “How did it go? Please tell me.” He answered, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.”
5David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”
6The young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance on Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning on his spear; and behold, the chariots and the horsemen followed close behind him.
7When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, ‘Here I am.’
8He said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’
9He said to me, ‘Please stand beside me, and kill me; for anguish has taken hold of me, because my life lingers in me.’
10So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
11Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.
12They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel; because they had fallen by the sword.
13David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?” He answered, “I am the son of a foreigner, an Amalekite.”
14David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to stretch out your hand to destroy Yahweh’s anointed?”
15David called one of the young men, and said, “Go near, and cut him down!” He struck him so that he died.
16David said to him, “Your blood be on your head; for your mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have slain Yahweh’s anointed.’ ”
What each tradition says
Rabbinic / Midrashic
The Jewish Encyclopedia states that Saul urged his armor-bearer to kill him to escape falling alive into enemy hands. When the attendant refused, Saul fell on his own sword; another account says an Amalekite slew him. It says these two records are doubtless built on the fact that Saul and his sons died in battle fighting for their people's liberty.
The Jewish Encyclopedia (New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1901-1906), s.v. 'Saul', The Jewish Encyclopedia, s.v. 'Saul' — section 'Death of Saul' (on 1 Samuel 31:4-6 and 2 Samuel 1)
Patristic
No sourced position found. Checked Augustine (City of God I on suicide and XVII on Saul: no Amalekite), Ambrose (De Officiis and the NPNF 2-10 volume), Tertullian, Lactantius and the Apostolic Constitutions (ANF 3, 7), Sulpicius Severus (narrates only the self-inflicted death), Gregory of Nyssa and John of Damascus volumes, Chrysostom's Romans/John homilies — no Father found who addresses the 1 Samuel 31 vs 2 Samuel 1 question.
Catholic
Driscoll states that Saul and his forces were overwhelmed by the Philistines; Jonathan and his brothers were slain. Fearing lest he fall into the hands of the uncircumcised, Saul begged his armour bearer to take his life, but the bearer refused to lay hands on the Lord’s anointed. In desperate straits, Saul ended his life by falling on his own sword.
James F. Driscoll, The Catholic Encyclopedia, s.v. 'Saul' (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912) — the closing section on Saul's death (1 Samuel 31)
Orthodox
No sourced position found. Checked John of Damascus (Exposition, incl. Book I ch. 11), Gregory of Nyssa (Against Eunomius and Answer to Eunomius' Second Book), the 1672 Synod of Jerusalem decrees, and Chrysostom's homilies on Romans and John (the NPNF/ANF corpus): no Orthodox statement found that engages the two accounts of Saul's death.
Reformed / Protestant
Matthew Henry says the Amalekite's story is doubtful. If true, God's righteousness appears: Saul, who spared the Amalekites in contempt of God's command, was fatally wounded by one. But most interpreters think it false; the Amalekite may have been present, not assisting, and told David this expecting reward.
Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on the Whole Bible, vol. 2: Joshua to Esther (1706-1721) — Exposition of 2 Samuel 1:1-16 (on the Amalekite's story)
Evangelical
Blaikie holds there is no reason to suppose the Amalekite’s narrative of Saul’s death is correct where it differs from the earlier account. He sees no cause to doubt the Amalekite was near, witnessed Saul’s death, and later removed the crown and bracelet from the dead king and stowed them among his gear.
William Garden Blaikie (1820-1899), The Second Book of Samuel (The Expositor's Bible; London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1898) — Chapter I, 'David's Lament for Saul and Jonathan' (on 2 Samuel 1:1-16)