1.
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
2.
And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.
3.
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.
4.
Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5.
And when his armourbearer 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.
1 Chronicles 10:6. All his house died together— 1:e. All of his house or family who were with him that day. In 1Sa 31:6 it is all his men.
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.
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.
1 Chronicles 10:9. To carry tidings unto their idols— That the tidings might be told in the temples of their idols. Houbigant.
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 Jabesh-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 Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
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 Chronicles 10:13. To enquire of it— See the note on 1 Samuel 31:1. The two great offences of Saul, which are recapitulated in this verse, were, his sparing the Amalekites, and consulting the witch of Endor.
14.
And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10:14. And enquired not of the Lord— This seems to contradict what is said 1 Samuel 28:6. But the Jews and others reconcile the two passages by saying, that as he did not persevere to inquire of God, nor inquire at all with a truly religious and faithful spirit, but went to a witch, it was just the same as if he had not inquired at all. "He whose heart is perfect with God," says a learned Jew, "lifts up his eyes to him and fixes them on him, hoping in him, though he do not presently hear or grant his request; and perseveres in his hopes, setting a resolution to wait upon him. But so did not Saul, who was remiss and negligent, saying in the pride of his heart, If the Lord will not answer me, I will consult a familiar spirit." The Vulgate renders the words in this place, and put not his trust in the Lord.
REFLECTIONS.—1st, For the account of Saul's death, see 1 Samuel 31. 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.
2nd, The indignity offered to the bodies of Saul and his sons, and the bold attempt of the men of Jabesh-gilead, were before observed. Note; (1.) God will visit for sin, and the highest are not above his arm. (2.) They who abused their power when alive, deserve to be stigmatized when dead, as a warning to others. (3.) Ruin must be near, when men, like Saul, turn away from God, and abandon themselves to the devil.