1 Chronicles 10

1 Chronicles 10:1

1 CHAPTER 10

Saul’ s overthrow and death, . The Philistines triumph over Saul, . The kindness of Jabesh-gilead towards Saul and his sons: his sin, .

Of this and the following verses till , see my notes on 1Sa 31, where we have the same thing expressed almost in thee same words.

1 Chronicles 10:6

All his house, i.e. all his children, to wit, then present with him, namely,

his three sons, as it is expressed, . For it is evident that Ish-bosheth and Mephibosheth were not slain. But nothing is more common in Scripture and all authors, than to understand all of a great and most considerable part.

1 Chronicles 10:7

In the valley; which was beneath Mount Gilboa, where the fight was, .

1 Chronicles 10:10

And his body severed from his head to the wall of Beth-shan, .

1 Chronicles 10:12

To wit, every day till evening, after the manner of the Jewish fasts.

1 Chronicles 10:13

Saul died for his transgression: the sense is, Wonder not that Saul fell by the hands of the Philistines, who were armed against him by his own sin and by God’ s vengeance for it.

Against the word of the Lord; against God’ s express, and plain, and positive command; which is a great aggravation of any sin.

For asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit; which also was contrary to a manifest command, , and moreover, contrary to his own conscience, which was so fully convinced hereof, that he had endeavoured the utter extirpation of all such persons, in pursuance of God’ s law. See .

To inquire of it, concerning the event of the approaching battle.

1 Chronicles 10:14

Inquired not of the Lord.

Object. Saul inquired of the Lord, .

Answ. He did so, but not in a right manner, not humbly and penitently, not diligently and importunately, not patiently and perseveringly; but when God would not answer him speedily, he gives it over, and goes from God to the devil. Compare ,19. Such an inconsiderable and trifling inquiry as Saul made, is justly accounted to be no inquiry at all; as they are said not to eat the Lord’ s supper, , who did eat it in a sinful and irregular manner.