1 Samuel
Chapter 31
Death of Saul
Death of Saul 1Now the Philistines fought against the Israelites who, in their flight, fell mortally wounded on Mount Gilboa.
The Philistines surrounded Saul and his sons. They killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.
The battle raged around Saul, and he was afraid when he saw that the archers had found him.
Then Saul commanded his armor-bearer: “Draw your sword and run me through lest these uncircumcised men come and stab me themselves, making fun of me.” But his armor-bearer did not move because he was greatly terrified. So Saul drew his sword and fell upon it.
Seeing that Saul was dead, the armor-bearer also fell upon his sword and died with him.
Thus, Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together on the same day.
When the Israelites on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. Then, the Philistines came and occupied those cities.
The following day, the Philistines came to strip the slain. They found Saul and his three sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa.
They cut off his head and stripped off his armor and then sent messengers throughout the Philistine lands to proclaim this good news in the temples of their idols and among the people.
They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth and pinned his body on the wall of Beth-shan.
When the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
all their warriors set out, marched through the night, and removed the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. They then returned to Jabesh and burnt the bodies there.
Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, after which they fasted for seven days.
Commentaries
Death of Saul.
Among the two historical events—the defeat of Israel and the death of Saul—the author emphasizes the latter more. The battle was crucial, and the victory gave the Philistines uncontested dominance. By controlling the valleys of Esdraelon and Jezreel and reaching the Jordan, the Philistines claimed a fertile region, isolated the northern tribes, and gained new routes to central Ephraim. Saul’s death occurs directly after chapter 28; however, the author doesn’t explore the psychological aspects, especially the sense of premonitions. Additionally, Hebrew narrators often found it difficult to depict battles, tending to include general details and usually focusing on a specific character or event. In this case, it is Saul with his family and escort.