20140419 Saturday, April 19 2014
1 Samuel 31: Saul's Last Stand

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together"

The Philistines had been Israel's most militarily-powerful enemy since the time of Joshua nearly three centuries earlier (see Joshua 1: Joshua's Commission). The Philistines had however never killed an Israelite king in battle. Saul, Israel's first king, would be their first trophy.

"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 KJV)

With his army breaking around him, Saul's three sons, including Jonathan (see 1 Samuel 20: David and Jonathan), died before their father.

"31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.

31:3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers." (1 Samuel 31:2-3 KJV)

Saul feared capture more than death. When it seemed that his wounds were not mortal, Saul commanded his armourbearer to kill him. When the armourbearer refused, "Saul took a sword, and fell upon it."

"31:4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me.

But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

31:5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. 31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together." (1 Samuel 31:4-6 KJV)

The Philistines then looted and occupied the northern Israel cities that were left undefended by the retreating Israelites.

"31:7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them." (1 Samuel 31:7 KJV)

Saul's fear of being captured alive was justified. His death unfortunately didn't stop atrocities to the bodies of Saul and his sons. While the Israelites were later able to recover the bodies, their heads were sent as trophies "into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people."

"31:8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 31:9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. 31:10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

31:11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; 31:12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 31:13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days." (1 Samuel 31:8-13 KJV)

Fact Finder: Who were the Canaanites? Who were the Philistines?
See What Does The Bible Really Say About Canaanites? and 1 Samuel 29: Where Is Palestine?