---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  1 Chronicles 10"
description: "CHAPTER 10   :-. SAUL"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/1-chronicles/10"
---

CHAPTER 10

. SAUL'S
OVERTHROW AND DEATH.

**1. Now the Philistines fought
against Israel**—The details of this chapter have no relation to
the preceding genealogies and seem to be inserted solely to introduce
the narrative of David's elevation to the throne of the whole
kingdom. The parallel between the books of Samuel and Chronicles
commences with this chapter, which relates the issue of the fatal
battle of Gilboa almost in the very same words as .

**3. the battle went sore against
Saul; and the archers hit him, and he was wounded**—The *Hebrew*
words may be thus rendered: "The archers found (attacked) him,
and he feared the archers." He was not wounded, at least not
dangerously, when he resolved on committing suicide. The deed was the
effect of sudden terror and overwhelming depression of spirits
[CALMET].

**4. his armour-bearer would not; for
he was sore afraid**—He was, of course, placed in the same
perilous condition as Saul. But it is probable that the feelings that
restrained him from complying with Saul's wish were a profound
respect for royalty, mingled with apprehension of the shock which
such a catastrophe would give to the national feelings and interests.

**6. Saul died, and his three sons,
and all his house**—his sons and courtiers who were there engaged
in the battle. But it appears that Ish-bosheth and Mephibosheth were
kept at Gibeah on account of their youth.
. THE
PHILISTINES TRIUMPH
OVER HIM.

**10. put his armour in the house of
their gods**—It was common among the heathen to vow to a national
or favorite deity, that, in the event of a victory, the armor of the
enemy's king, or of some eminent leader, should be dedicated to him
as an offering of gratitude. Such trophies were usually suspended on
the pillars of the temple.
**fastened his head in the
temple of Dagon**—while the trunk or headless corpse was affixed
to the wall of Beth-shan ().

**13. Saul died for his transgression
which he committed against the Lord**—in having spared the king
of the Amalekites and taken the flocks of the people as spoils [], as well as in having consulted a pythoness []. Both of these acts were great sins—the first as a
violation of God's express and positive command [], and the second as contrary to a well-known statute of the
kingdom ([Leviticus 19:31](../../../kjv/leviticus/19/31)).

**14. And inquired not of the Lord**—He
had done so in form ([1 Samuel 28:6](../../../kjv/1-samuel/28/6)),
but not in the spirit of a humble penitent, nor with the believing
confidence of a sincere worshipper. His enquiry was, in fact, a mere
mockery, and his total want of all right religious impressions was
manifested by his rushing from God to a wretched impostor in the
service of the devil [[1 Samuel 28:7](../../../kjv/1-samuel/28/7)].

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