1 & 2 Samuel

1 Samuel Chapter 31

The Death of Saul

1Samuel 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

This ending didn't have to be like this. It was prophesied that this would happen but it just didn't have to be. I want to include here the words of F.B.Meyer:

"This defeat meant something more than a temporary reverse. It was symptomatic of national decay. Saul’s reign had brought moral degeneracy to his people. Their moral fiber was impaired, their life-blood impoverished. As king and people were weighed in the divine balances (which are ever testing us), they were found wanting. No man can sin alone! Sin becomes an epidemic!
Much had happened since Saul’s designation as king. Alas, that so bright a dawn should have clouded in such a sunset! Like a noble tree Saul fell before the storm. He fell because he had never prayed, as David did, to be cleansed from secret faults, and to be held back from presumptuous sins. The only gleam of light on that terrible day was the chivalrous deed of Jabesh-gilead. Her sons could never forget Saul’s valorous exploit on their behalf. After the manner of Joseph and Nicodemus at the death of our Lord, they identified themselves with what seemed a lost cause. Would that every reader of these lines was equally grateful and generous in confessing Him who delivered us from a yet greater death!"

My own words: Many national leaders have failed just like Saul. Others under their authority follow after them either by adoration or by fear. As a result a nation is lost. When a country rises up in strength but the people turn away from God, evil prevails, sooner or later another country will have the strength to overthrow the nation. It has happened over and over in history. Without God's protection, we will lose our own nation.

I fear for our nation because of the increased sin caused by leaving God out of our schools and forbidding the bible or mention of Jesus. When a nation hurts the children, get ready to be overthrown.

Abortion, gender operations, child sex trafficking, abuse, and there are even rumors that I hope are not true of live children being sacrificed to idols. Abortion is allowed by some states right up until birth and a couple of states allow them to die after they are born. Body parts are sold for medical experiments and transplants. That part has proven to be true. We have to stop doing these things and departing from the way God made us if we want to save our nation. Some even want us to stop using pronouns, like man, wife, male, female, boy and girl. That is a direct slur against the way God created us. Shame on us for allowing this so far.

1Samuel 31:7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

Others ran for their lives and the Philistines came to take over the cities they vacated.

1Samuel 31:8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Some had overcome their fear to do what was right with the bodies of Saul and his sons. How horrible to see this happen to one God had anointed to be king. The Philistines took their bodies and hung them in an idol's temple. This was meant to mock the God of Israel and claim victory over both Israel and God. Their bodies were like trophies to them.

Saul had once helped the people of Jabeshgilead so they showed respect toward Saul and took down the bodies, burned them and buried them out of respect. They then fasted seven whole days to honor their memory. The children of Israel do not as a rule burn bodies but bury them but in this case they did it probably so the bodies can't be used as a trophy in a disrespectful manner. In later chapters we will see that David did not rejoice to see the end of Saul and his sons. He mourned also.

Not everyone follows the ways of evil and God sees that. He will never forsake the ones who believe and obey His word. DC

End of 1st Samuel. Back to Samuel Index