1 Chronicles 10

1 Chronicles 10:1-7

In this chapter we have, 1. The Israelites routed by the Philistines, and Saul Sion, ver. 1—7. 2. The Philistines triumph thereupon, ver. 8—10. 3. The respect which the men of Tabeh-gilead focused to the royal corps, ver. 11, 12. 4. The reason of Saul’s rejection, ver. 13, 14.

1. NOW the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down a train in mount Gilboa. 2. And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons, and the Philistines flew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchifhua, the sons of Saul. 3. And the battle went forer against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers. 4. Then said Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; left their uncircumcribed come and abude me. But his armour-bearer would not, for he was forer afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 5. And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died. 6. So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together. 7. 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.

For this account of Saul’s death, see 1 Sam. xxxi. 1. It was a just judgment on Saul; and, no doubt, his bloody house following his ill example, deserved to fall with him. Thus a way was made for David to the crown, most of his competitors being removed. We pity Jonathan, that lovely name, fallen among the slain; but all is wise and good which

God doth, though we are short-sighted, and see not always the reasons of his procedure.

8. ¶ 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. 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. And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 11. ¶ And when all Jabeh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul; 12. They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabeh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabeh, and fastened seven days. 13. ¶ So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, now against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking compel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; 14. And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he flew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jefse.

1 Chronicles 10:8-14

The indignity offered the bodies of Saul and his sons, and the bold attempt of the men of Jabeh-gilead, were before observed; and his disobedience to God, in the case of Amalek, and his confiding a familiar spirit, are here mentioned as the causes of his fall. Note. (1.) God will visit for sin, and the highest art not above his aim. (2.) They who abused their power when alive, deserve to be stigmatized when dead, for a warning to others. (3.) Rain must be near, when men, like Saul, turn away from God, and abandon themselves to the devil.