When we get to this point, we have two accounts, here in Samuel, but also in Chronicles. Some has said that 1 & 2 Samuel and 1&2 Kings is history from man’s standpoint whereas 1&2 Chronicles is history from God’s standpoint.
In this chapter, we see the Philistines fighting at Mount Gilboa against Israel again and this time the battle turns against Israel. They had been preparing for battle as we read in chapter 28. There we saw that Saul was not ready for battle and he was in rebellion against God. (28:4,5). You will recall that instead of seeking God he went to the witch of Endor to seek advice. He asked to see Samuel and that’s what he got, but not words of hope, rather words of judgement. Samuel had told Saul that he would die tomorrow. (see 28:19).
In chapter 29, David was in the difficult position of being associated with the Philistine army, but the LORD intervened, and he didn’t go with them.
When we get to chapter 31, this is the ‘tomorrow’ referred to by Samuel. The Israelites are retreating, many falling dead followed by the Philistines and Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-shua are killed.
How we must be careful when we disobey God? Saul’s sons are affected by God’s judgement on Saul.
The fighting had grown fierce around Saul, and he had fallen critically wounded. David had had several opportunities to kill Saul, but he left it in the hands of God and here we see that Saul’s descendants are killed, thus leaving the way open for David to become next king. We would assume that Jonathan would have been pleased for David to be king from what we read in 1 Samuel 18, but it is doubtful the other sons may have been so accommodating. In a way God was merciful to Jonathan in that there would have been family rivalry had they not all been killed. There was, however, one son remaining, Ishbosheth, there had been no previous mention of him until now, but we read more about him in 2 Samuel 2.
The tragedy does not end there, however. Saul was wounded by the archers, so badly that he asked his armour-bearer to run him through with his sword. His armour-bearer was not prepared to do that. Maybe he was reticent to do anything to The LORD’s anointed just as David had been. Remember David had once been Saul’s armour bearer. Saul took his own sword and fell on it and when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword and died with him. They all died together the same day. How sad that a loyal young man had to forfeit his own life because Saul didn’t want to be tortured by the Philistines (v4). Saul’s selfishness is apparent even to the end. The Philistines were notorious for humiliating their victims especially wounded high-ranking officers and kings, so, one assumes that Saul was fearful of being tortured to death.
Did Saul commit suicide? There are arguments for and against it. Some say he was so badly injured he only brought on the inevitable. He was mortally wounded and believed that he could not survive.
Suicide is sin, but it is not the unforgivable sin. Saul had been told that he would die that day, but he doesn’t seem to have cried out to God for mercy. Most people don’t have the ‘luxury’ of knowing. If it is suicide it is said to be usually the ultimate act of cowardice, although I would have thought it takes great courage do it.
1 Chronicles 10:13,14 tells us that Saul died for his unfaithfulness to God, his disobedience and because he consulted a medium for guidance and did not enquire of The LORD. v14 says’ “God killed him”. It is serious business, God’s will. Let us be careful who we seek guidance from. God has already given it, let us obey Him. Not to, could be fatal.
F.B.Meyer says, “It is a very solemn thought! No career could have begun with fairer, brighter prospects than Saul had, and none could close in more absolute midnight of despair; and yet such a fate may befall us, unless we watch, and pray, and walk humbly with our God.” “It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his helper is omnipotent.”
It was around twenty years before this that Saul first heard Samuel’s judgment against him but maybe he thought that as time passed it wouldn’t happen. How dangerous it is put off getting right with God. I’m sure you’ve had people say to you, as I have, I will think about God when I’m older, even on my death bed. My usual answer is that you might not get the chance.
When Israel saw they were totally defeated, their king and his sons were dead, they fled and left their cities, and the Philistines occupied their cities (v7). In 2 Samuel 4 we learn that one of Jonathan’s sons Mephibosheth was among those who fled and was injured in the escape. In the second book of Samuel, we would see what happened to him.
We can see that when they saw their king was dead it caused them to panic. How important it is for leaders to set an example? Leaders in life have a great responsibility and great effect on others. Saul’s behaviour had affected his people and put them in grave danger.
The Philistines came next day to finish off the dead and they found the body of king Saul (v8-10). They cut off his head, stripped him of his armour, put it in the temple of the Ashtoreths, the temple of their idols and hung his body on the wall of Beth Shan together with the bodies of his sons. They proclaimed the news and paraded Saul’s head in their idols’ temple. This was the ultimate shame to king Saul – glorifying their pagan gods and in turn mocking The Living God.
However, there was a bright light in the darkness – v11-13 the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead. They were Israelites and they heard of it and travelled all night and took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall, took them to Jabesh, burned their bodies and buried their bones under the tamarisk tree, and fasted seven days. Many years before (1 Samuel 11) Saul had delivered the city of Jabesh Gilead from the Ammonites, and they repaid the kindness shown to them. Later (2 Samuel 21:13,14) David had Saul and Jonathan’s bones dug up and had them buried in the family tomb in Benjamin.
Before we leave this event, there is an interesting passage in 2 Samuel 1:4-10 where an Amalekite reported that he had actually killed Saul with the final blow after he had found him to be wounded. We do not know for sure if an Amalekite did it because Saul’s armour-bearer may have been reluctant. Alternatively, it may have been that the Amalekite lied because he thought David would reward him for killing his ‘enemy’.
On the contrary, when David heard of Saul’s death, he did not rejoice. Rather, he mourned and wrote a song which is noted in 2 Samuel 1:19-27, in which spoke well of Saul and Jonathan. What an amazing character David was despite being hounded by Saul.
