Saul and His Sons Die in Battle
Study note
The Philistines attacked Israel at Mount Gilboa. Saul's three sons, including Jonathan, were killed. When Saul was badly wounded by archers, he asked his armor-bearer to kill him rather than let the enemy capture him. When the armor-bearer refused, Saul fell on his own sword. After this defeat, the Israelites in the valley abandoned their cities and fled.
1 The Philistines attacked Israel, and the Israelite soldiers ran from them. Many Israelites were killed on Mount Gilboa. Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2 The Philistines caught up with Saul and his sons and killed three of his sons: Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-Shua. And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.
3 The battle grew more and more intense around Saul. Enemy archers spotted him and hit him with their arrows, seriously wounding him. And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.
4 Saul told his armor-bearer, 'Pull out your sword and kill me before these godless Philistines come and abuse me.' But the armor-bearer was too scared to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died too. And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.
6 So Saul and his three sons all died that day. His entire household was wiped out together. So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.
7 When the Israelites living in the valley saw that their army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and ran. The Philistines then came and took over those towns. And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
The Philistines Dishonor Saul
Study note
The next day, the Philistines found the bodies of Saul and his sons. They stripped Saul's armor and cut off his head, then sent news of their victory throughout their land. They placed his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon.
8 The next day, the Philistines went to strip the dead bodies and found Saul and his sons lying on Mount Gilboa. And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
9 They took off his armor and cut off his head. Then they sent the news across their land to tell their idols and their people. And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.
10 They put Saul's armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon. And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.
Brave Men Rescue Saul's Body
Study note
When the people of Jabesh-Gilead heard what had happened, their bravest warriors marched to recover the bodies of Saul and his sons. They brought the bodies back and buried them under an oak tree, then fasted for seven days. Jabesh-Gilead remembered that Saul had rescued them earlier in his reign.
11 When the people of Jabesh-Gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul, And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 all their bravest men went out and brought back the bodies of Saul and his sons. They carried them to Jabesh and buried their bones under a large tree. Then they went without food for seven days to honor them. They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
Why Saul Died
Study note
The author explains that Saul died because he disobeyed the Lord and even went to a medium for guidance instead of asking God. Because of this unfaithfulness, God took the kingdom away from Saul's family and gave it to David son of Jesse.
13 Saul died because he turned away from the Lord and refused to obey God's commands. He even went to a medium to ask for guidance So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;
14 instead of asking the Lord for direction. Because of this, the Lord took his life and gave the kingdom to David son of Jesse. And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.