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1 Chronicles 10

World English Bible

WEB

1Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa. 2The Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. 3The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed by reason of the archers. 4Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it. 5When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died. 6So Saul died with his three sons; and all his house died together. 7When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them. 8On the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9They stripped him and took his head and his armor, then sent into the land of the Philistines all around to carry the news to their idols and to the people. 10They put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon. 11When all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all the valiant men arose 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. 13So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of Yahweh’s word, which he didn’t keep, and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire, 14and didn’t inquire of Yahweh. Therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

1 Chronicles Chapter 10 recounts the tragic end of King Saul, the first king of Israel, and the consequences of his disobedience to God. The chapter begins with the Philistines waging war against Israel, leading to a fierce battle on Mount Gilboa. In this confrontation, Saul and his sons, including #Jonathan, are defeated, and Saul is critically wounded by enemy archers. In a moment of despair, Saul chooses to take his own life by falling on his sword, a decision that reflects his deep sense of failure and abandonment by God, as he had previously sought guidance from a medium rather than repenting and seeking the Lord's counsel (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). This act of suicide marks a tragic end to his reign, illustrating the dire consequences of turning away from God’s commands.

The chapter concludes with the aftermath of Saul's death, highlighting the mourning of the people of Jabesh-gilead, who bravely retrieve Saul's body from the Philistines and give him a proper burial. This act of honor demonstrates the respect and loyalty that some still held for Saul despite his failures. The narrative serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God and the devastating effects of sin, as well as the hope of redemption that comes through obedience. The chapter sets the stage for the rise of David, who will become the next king of Israel, fulfilling God’s promise to establish a leader after His own heart.

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Referenced by

  1. 1 Samuel 31:6v61 Samuel 31:6 and 1 Chronicles 10:6 both record the death of Saul and his sons, marking the end of Saul's reign and the transition to David's kingship.
  2. 1 Samuel 31:9v9Both passages describe the Philistines' actions of stripping Saul and sending his armor as a trophy, symbolizing their victory over Israel.

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