Saul's death
1 Sam 28:5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
1 Sam 28:6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
Saul was defeated before going to battle. He sought the diviner, and heard more bad news from a spirit, supposedly Samuel. He lost all hope that night. Now it is time for the battle.
1 Sam 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.
The Philistines overcame the armies of Saul, chasing them back to their home camp where many were slain. Where was David? He was fighting the Amalekites who had plundered Ziklag. What appeared to be a time of sorrow for David, was in reality God's grace in bringing David and his men away from the opposing armies. David regained all that was lost and was qualified to be the next king, without the blemish of fighting against his own people. What would have happened if David's own desire to fight with the Philistines had become a reality? He would have been disqualified and lost the crown.
1Cor 9: 24 (NKJV) Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lam 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Lam 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Lam 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Saul, who continuously disobeyed the LORD, would have to face death as a man, without the LORD'S help. Our disobedience as men can bring down others in our family with us.
1 Sam 31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons.
Saul's son's, the future heirs if it were not for David, to the throne. Saul had made a covenant with David to protect his family. The enemy had no such covenant. The Philistines as a pack of wolves came after Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, a brave and loyal captain and son to Saul. He had always trusted in the Lord and was David's best friend. The people also loved Jonathan and many would have wanted him to be the next king. Saul's other two sons were also killed in battle. By the deaths of Saul's sons, the throne would be more open to God's chosen king, David.
1 Sam 31:3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
“The flower of his army lay strewn around him; the chivalry of Israel was quenched in rivers of blood. Then, leaving all others, the Philistines concentrated their attack on that lordly figure which towered amid the fugitives, the royal crown on the helmet, the royal bracelet flashing on his arm.” (Meyer)
One commentator suggested that Saul was merely frightened by the archers. The word says that they hit him and he was sore wounded. Sore means heavy or grievously wounded. Saul took many arrows.
1 Sam 31:4 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.
Saul commands his trusted armourbearer to finish him off with the sword. At one time David had been Saul's armour bearer, before defeating Goliath
1 Sam 16:21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
In no way would David harm God's anointed. Apparently this other armourbearer shared David's views. The reasons that Saul gave for ending his life, were that he did not want to be defiled and made sport of, being tormented and tortured by the enemy. Saul who spent much of his life tormenting David, yet does not want this for himself. To die in a quick way is better then to die in torment. Saul, took his sword and fell upon it.
1 Sam 31:5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
The faithful armourbearer dies with the king he served. Perhaps he died with fear and loyalty as his motive. Jesus died with love in his heart for us and in obedience to his father.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
1 Sam 31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
“It is a very solemn thought! No career could begin with fairer, brighter prospects than Saul had, and none could close in more absolute midnight of despair; and yet such a fate may befall us, unless we watch, and pray, and walk humbly with our God.” (Meyer)
An Amalekite claims that Saul was still not dead, so he finished him off. He tells his story to David in 2 Samuel.
2 Sam 1:6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
2 Sam 1:7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
2 Sam 1:8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
2 Sam 1:9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
2 Sam 1:10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
David still honoring Saul as God's anointed, has the Amalekite killed. Saul earlier had disobeyed God in not utterly destroying the Amalekites.
1 Sam 15:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.
1 Sam 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
They must have really been bad, apparently God knew they would never repent as did the people of Ninenevah at Jonah's witness to them. God knows the hearts and his ways are perfect.
This was the sin of disobedience that started Saul on his downward journey to separation from God's spirit and death. Sin always leads to death.
1 Sam 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.
The people of Israel, seeing the defeat, ran for their lives. Even those across the Jordan leave their homes. The Philistines take control and divide the country from West to East. They were in part reaping the fruit of Saul's disobedience. God had warned them when they chose a king, that they were to obey God or be punished.
1 Sam 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.
1 Sam 12:25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
1 Sam 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.
1 Sam 31:9 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.
1 Sam 31:10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
They paraded Saul's head as a trophy among the Philistine people, just as David had displayed the head of Goliath in the streets of Israel. Saul's armour was hung in the temple of Ashtaroth, a place of worship of pagan deities. Just as the sword of Goliath was kept in the temple of God in Israel.
They hung Saul's headless body on the wall of their pagan god in Bethan. This was high on a hill so that all could see it. To hang a body in public view was the ultimate disgrace. In verse 12 it said that the bodies of Saul's three sons were also disgraced in this manner.
I can only think now of our Lord hanging on a cross with the two thieves. How humiliating. Yet how marvelous is the grace and love of God that he would do this to make us free!
Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
1 Sam 31:11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
Jabeshgilead had been protected by a newly appointed king Saul. He organised a fragmented country to come in defense of this city that was being threatened and oppressed by the Ammonites. It was Saul's first military victory as king and the people never forgot the deed of valour brought forth by their brave new king.
1 Sam 31:12 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.
The valiant men of ths city with tears of loyalty go forth into the enemies territory and rescue the bodies of Saul and his three sons. They burned the flesh away. In cremation, the bones remain.
1 Sam 31:13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
The bones refined by fire were laid to rest under a tree at Jabesh. The people who loved the memory of the deceased fasted for seven days. This usually meant only water and a meager ration.
David would honour the memory of Saul and his sons in 2 Samuel 1:17-27. He spoke only good of the king and his friend Jonathan. The years of being persecuted were not mentioned, for David trusted the Lord and respected God's anointed even unto death. There was no bitterness or unforgiveness in his heart. He was a man after God's own heart.
1 Chr 10:13 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;
1 Chr 10:14 And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
Saul died for his transgressions, the LORD allowed it even as he protected David who trusted and served him. At last David would be king over Israel. He almost lost the opportunity by giving up at the end. Remember this and do not give up, because God has a plan for your life. Even though we are chosen servants as David was chosen, life will have many trials and obstacles placed in our way. Keep trusting our Lord and we will make it through them all. God is faithful.
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