1 Chronicles 10

Defeat and Death of Saul and His Sons

1 ¹Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before * the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2 The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan, ²Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.

3 The battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers * overtook him; and he was wounded by the archers.

4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me." But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. ³Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it.

5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died.

6 ⁴Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.

7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.

8 It came about the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

9 ⁵So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people.

10 They put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.

Jabesh-gilead's Tribute to Saul

11 When all Jabesh-gilead * heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 ⁶all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

13 ⁷So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the LORD which he did not keep; and also ⁸because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it,

14 and did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore He killed him and ⁹turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.

1 Chronicles 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 31:1-13
• 2. 1 Samuel 31:2
• 3. 1 Samuel 31:4
• 4. 1 Samuel 31:6
• 5. 1 Samuel 31:9
• 6. 1 Samuel 31:12
• 7. 1 Samuel 13:13, 14; 1 Samuel 15:23
• 8. Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6; 1 Samuel 28:7
• 9. 1 Samuel 15:28; 1 Chronicles 12:23

Footnotes

• [a]. In 1 Sam 14:49, "Ishvi"
• [b]. Lit "found him"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 10

This part, 1Ch 10:1-12 which gives an account of the last battle of Saul with the Philistines, and of his death and burial, is the same with 1Sa 31:1-13 see the notes there; the cause of his death follows in 1Ch 10:13.