58 Saul’s Tragic End

First Samuel 31, not only presents the final chapter in the book, but also the account of the end of the lives of Saul and three of his sons.

1 The Battle at Gilboa

1 Samuel 31:1

In one of his acts of rebellion, Saul had gone to a medium, and asked that she raise up the deceased prophet Samuel, to determine whether he would be successful or not in an impending battle with the Philistines. In a highly unusual situation, the Lord had the spirit of Samuel prophesy to Saul, that not only would Israel be defeated in the battle, but that Saul and his sons would all be killed:

1 Samuel 28:19

The Philistines had already made great intrusion into Israel, encamping in the area of Mount Gilboa.

Saul was without question, entering the battle with trepidation. He done what the Law determined was an abomination, by consulting with a medium, who had given him the worst possible news.

The fact played out as Saul and his army fled in the face of the fierce Philistine fighters.

2 Saul’s Tragic End

1 Samuel 31:2-6

Samuel’s spirit had prophesied that Saul and three of his sons would die in battle, which would required for David’s future ascension to the throne.

The Philistines, therefore killed three of Saul’s sons, including Jonathan in the battle.

Saul did have one surviving son, named Ishbosheth, and it’s in Second Samuel, where we’re shown how that situation was resolved.

Saul was then severely wounded in battle, by one of the Philistine archers.

His wounds were apparently so great, that he was convinced he wouldn’t survive. He asked his armorbearer to kill him rather than allowing the Philistines to come upon him in his current state. He felt they would abuse him, before finally killing him.

But what is seen, is that Saul still didn’t repent or cry out to the Lord, but rather sought to end his suffering.

His servant was fearful of killing his master and refused to kill him. Therefore, when Saul saw no other answer, he fell on his own sword.

When the armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he then took his own life, showing that his allegiance was to Saul, rather than to the Lord.

3 The Aftermath

1 Samuel 31:7-13

The Israelites were so shaken by the news of the death of Saul and his sons, that even the two and a half tribes, which had remained in territory on the east side of the Jordan River, began fleeing their towns.

With the towns abandoned, ironically the Philistines took the cities over.

The greater irony though, is that the Israelites who remained on the east side of the Jordan, had never entered into God’s promise (the Promise Land) but rather had settled for what their flesh believed was expedient.

Now, the Lord was dislodging them from land that He hadn’t ever intended for them.

Interestingly, Saul had been correct, concerning how the Philistines would treat his body. They abused his corpse in the worst way:

1 Samuel 31:8-13

The Philistines cut off Saul’s head, and placed in armor in one of their temples, in a manner of speaking, declaring that their gods had defeated Israel and its king.

However, they weren’t finished in their abuse and denigration, as they fastened his headless body to the walls of one of the cities.

Yet, valiant Israelites from Jabesh Gilad, risked their own lives, by removing the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall, burning the already desecrated bodies, and then burying the bones at Jabesh.