1 Samuel 31

1 Samuel 31:1-13

1 Samuel 31:1-13 — Saul and His Sons are Killed in Battle – 1 Samuel 31:1-13 records the tragic death of Saul and his sons Saul in battle against the Philistines. King Saul reigned in Israel for about forty years (Acts 13:21). Acts 13:21, “And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.” 1 Samuel 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. 1 Samuel 31:1 — Comments - Note the contrast here of David’s victory against Saul’s defeat. 1 Samuel 31:13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 1 Samuel 31:13 — Comments - David will later dig up the bones of Saul’s sons and bury them in the sepulchre of their father, Kish (See 2 Samuel 21:12-14). 1 Samuel 31:11-13 — Comments - The Men of Jabeshgilead Recover the Body of Saul and His Sons - Note in 1 Samuel 11:1-15 Saul rescued this city from the Ammonites. Now these inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead see that it is time to repay this favour.