1 Samuel 31

Introduction:

Last week we completed chapters 29 & 30 in which David and his 600 men were sent away from the battle with the Israelites and back to Ziklag by King Achish.

They discovered that Ziklag had been burned and their wives and children taken away as captives by the Amalekites.

So, David sought the Lord and went after them.

It was a successful campaign and they returned to Ziklag with all that the Amalekites had taken, losing none, but gaining also the spoil of the Amalekites.

Meanwhile, the Philistines were still marching against Saul and the Israelites.

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Saul was no military light-weight.

In fact, Saul’s very impressive military record is summarized in .

1 Samuel 14:47–48 NKJV

So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he harassed them. And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.

Saul was, at one time, a conquering general and a national hero.

He was tremendously successful to begin with … and the people even sang of the thousands he had slain.

He began his career as a great success and the people sang, “Saul has slain his thousands.”

It was when he took it upon himself to offer a burnt offering and then failed to obey the command of the Lord by destroying the Amalekites that Saul started going downhill.

And then David, a man after God’s own heart, came on the scene.

And Saul’s envy of David’s success turned into an obsessive and paranoid desire to kill David.

When David came on the scene, Saul’s envy of the young man’s success so obsessed him that the king became paranoid and dangerous.

Saul had many good qualities, but the necessary qualities of humble, obedient faith in God were not among them.

Because of his pride and disobedience, his persistence in sin and refusal to repent, Saul lost everything.

And in our chapter today, the word of Samuel from chapter 28 comes to fruition:

1 Samuel 28:17–19 NKJV

And the Lord has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”

1 Samuel

So, the battle at Mount Gilboa that we are studying tonight in chapter 31, results in a complete Philistine victory.

David’s best friend Jonathan, along with two of Saul’s other sons, is killed in this battle.

Saul himself is critically wounded in the battle, but not killed.

And rather than be captured and made the object of ridicule, Saul falls on his sword.

Without a leader, the Israelites abandon entire towns in their desperate rush to escape.

When Saul’s body is found, the Philistines take his head and nail his body to a wall at Beth Shean.

But in an incredible act of heroism, men from Jabesh Gilead recover the bodies of Saul and his sons, burn them, and bury their bones in a safe place.

So,Israel’s first king, chosen to meet the desires of a people who wanted a human king like all the other nations, has failed and by his disobedience to God led them to a crushing defeat.

But God has His chosen man David, trained in the wilderness and having a heart after God’s own.

King David is now on his way to the throne of Israel.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, guide us in the study of Your Word tonight. Open our hearts and minds by the power of Your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and Your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what You say to us.

V1

V1

In the beginning of Saul’s reign, the Philistines had fought against Israel.

And now Saul’s reign will end in battle against the Philistines.

As we see looking back at chapter 9 and verse 16, Saul’s divine commission had been to save Israel from the, “Hand of the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 9:16 NKJV

“Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

Ironically Saul and his sons die at the hands of the Philistines.

but ironically he dies at their hand

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Saul’s soldiers were no match for the Philistine army with its large divisions and its many chariots. Some of the men deserted and many others died on the battlefield. The Philistines preferred to fight on level ground because they depended on their chariots, while Israel tried to lure them into the hill country around Mount Gilboa. Israel was outnumbered and outclassed, but even if they had boasted superior forces, they still would have been defeated. Saul’s hour of judgment had come. Without Samuel’s prayers and David’s anointed leadership, the army of Israel was destined for defeat.

Saul’s soldiers were no match for the Philistine army with its large divisions and its many chariots. Some of the men deserted and many others died on the battlefield. The Philistines preferred to fight on level ground because they depended on their chariots, while Israel tried to lure them into the hill country around Mount Gilboa. Israel was outnumbered and outclassed, but even if they had boasted superior forces, they still would have been defeated. Saul’s hour of judgment had come. Without Samuel’s prayers and David’s anointed leadership, the army of Israel was destined for defeat.

Saul’s soldiers were no match for the Philistine army.

Some deserted and many others died on the battlefield.

Saul’s strategy in positioning Israel’s army on Mt. Gilboa was not just to give them visibility of what the Philistines were doing.

The Philistines were dependent on their chariots, which could not function well in the hill country, so their preference was level ground.

But also, Israel was outnumbered … the Philistine army was massive.

It has been known for many years that when at a disadvantage it is best to fight from an elevated position.

In fact, Sun Tzu’s The Art of War gives 2 reasons that fighting from an elevated position is easier.

First, holding high ground offers better surveillance of what the enemy is doing and planning to do.

Secondly, soldiers fighting uphill will tire more quickly and will move more slowly, while soldiers fighting downhill will not tire as quickly, and have gravity at their advantage enabling them to move faster.

AND, projectiles have greater range when thrown or shot downhill while projectiles lose momentum and have less range going upwards.

Higher ground often has gullies and rocky terrain and poses significant obstacles to cavalry and obstacles.

This shows just how great a military commander Saul was.

So, it seems that Israel should have had a significant advantage over the Philistines, despite

Israel was outnumbered and outclassed, but they had better battlefield position … and their God is Almighty.

Israel was outnumbered and outclassed, but even if they had boasted superior forces, they still would have been defeated. Saul’s hour of judgment had come. Without Samuel’s prayers and David’s anointed leadership, the army of Israel was destined for defeat.

Yet no matter their advantages … even if they had boasted superior forces … they still would have been defeated.

That is because the LORD had spoken … and Saul’s hour of judgment had come.

v2-7

Without Samuel’s prayers and David’s anointed leadership, the army of Israel was destined for defeat.

v2-7

It’s a commendable record that presents Saul as a conquering general and a national hero.

Saul’s military record is summarized in . It’s a commendable record that presents Saul as a conquering general and a national hero. He began his career as a great success; after all, the people did sing, “Saul has slain his thousands.” It was after his failure to destroy the Amalekites that Saul began to go downhill. When David came on the scene, Saul’s envy of the young man’s success so obsessed him that the king became paranoid and dangerous. Saul had many good qualities, but none of them was humble, obedient faith in God. Because of his pride and disobedience, Saul lost everything.

He began his career as a great success; after all, the people did sing, “Saul has slain his thousands.”

It was after his failure to destroy the Amalekites that Saul began to go downhill.

When David came on the scene, Saul’s envy of the young man’s success so obsessed him that the king became paranoid and dangerous.

No matter the advantage of higher ground, the Philistines had the advantage of God’s judgment against Saul.

Saul had many good qualities, but none of them was humble, obedient faith in God.

Because of his pride and disobedience, Saul lost everything.

And so the armies of Israel fled before the Philistines, leaving Saul and his sons exposed.

AND as the King of Syria commanded his troops when going to war with Israel as recorded in , one of the first rules of ancient warfare was, “Kill the enemy king!”

1 Kings 22:31 NKJV

Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, “Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.”

The sons of Saul are the first named casualties here.

It seems that Saul was on the field with three of his four sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchushua, were on the battle field.

Jonathan was Saul’s firstborn and he himself had a son named Merib-Baal, also known as Mephibosheth.

David would later adopt Mephibosheth.

Saul was on the field with three of his four sons; for some reason, Ish-Bosheth (also known as Esh-Baal) was missing (; ; ).

Abinadab was Saul’s second son … his name means “My father is noble.”

Malchushua was Saul’s 3rd son … his name means “My father is wealthy.”

And Saul’s 4th son, Ishbosheth also known by the name Esh-Baal … his name means “Man of Shame.”

He was for some reason missing from the battle.

We will find that Ishbosheth gets put into the throne of Israel in while David sits on the throne of Judah.

So, for some reason, Ish-Bosheth (also known as Esh-Baal) was missing from the battle.

It probably wasn’t due to age, as we find out in that he was 40 years old at this time.

Perhaps it was Saul still defiant trying to change God’s judgment against him, keeping one son out of the battle so there would be a survivor to take the throne.

However, he would later be assassinated and David would then reign over all Israel and Judah.

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Back to our text, Saul’s sons died in battle first.

We don’t know how they were killed.

We are told, however, that Saul was fatally struck by an arrow.

The Hebrew word translated as “severely” is Mᵉōd (MAY-ohd) and in this context refers to an “abundant” or “critical” wound.

In other words, the arrow strike was fatal … but the wound was only slowly killing him.

The wound was only slowly killing him, though.

The Philistines were notorious for abusing and humiliating victims, especially officers and kings.

In those days, it was common for kings who were captured to be mutilated and subjected to a life of humiliation.

They might have their eyes and thumbs removed and forced to live begging for scraps under the victorious king’s table.

They might be tortured and displayed in public.

Assyrian and other texts record kings doing the same thing in order to avoid capture.

Matthews, V. H., Chavalas, M. W., & Walton, J. H. (2000). The IVP Bible background commentary: Old Testament (electronic ed., ). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Saul feared that he would be tortured to death, so when the armor bearer wouldn’t kill him, he fell on his sword and died.

The armor bearer immediately took his own life, and eventually all of Saul’s bodyguards and officers around him met their death.

What are we to think about this?

Did Saul commit a terrible sin in falling on his own sword?

Or did Saul behave heroically in protecting Israel from the indignity of having their King abused and tortured before them?

The Bible does not exactly tell us what to think.

The Bible does not exactly tell us what to think.

But there is a story in Judges where Samson takes his own life rather than be abused by the Philistines, and he is thought of as a hero for it.

The difference, though is that Samson brought God’s judgment down upon the Philistines.

And here, the Philistines brought God’s judgment down upon Saul.

I do find it interesting that it seems if Saul had not taken his own life, a Philistine would not have found him first.

Instead, it would have been an Amalekite.

In the first chapter of 2 Samuel, we’ll see that an Amalekite comes to David with Saul’s crown and a bracelet.

That Amalekite came upon Saul first, before any Philistines did.

And he was looking for a reward from king David.

Might it have been that instead of bringing David Saul’s crown and bracelet, if Saul had still been living, he would have brought Saul to David?

I don’t guess we could know … and that’s not what happened.

The Amalekite brought the crown and bracelet to David looking for a reward, saying that he had slain Saul.

And we know that the account of Saul’s death given to David by the Amalekite was primarily a lie.

He had not put Saul out of his misery because Saul had committed suicide and was dead when the man arrived.

He had not put Saul out of his misery because Saul had committed suicide and was dead when the man arrived.

After removing the royal crown and bracelet, the Amalekite, (who may have been a mercenary in one of the armies) should have safely removed the body from the field and protected it until it could have proper burial.

He thought that his story would win David’s approval and a great reward, but instead David had him put to death.

Because of Saul’s sins, he first lost his dynasty (13:11–14) and then his kingdom (15:24–31), and finally he lost his crown.

The warning of our Lord in is applicable at this point: “Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”

Do not read below:

Revelation 3:11 NKJV

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

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“Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward” (, nkjv).

I think to debate whether Saul sinned in his suicide or was heroic in taking his own life given the circumstances is to miss the point.

The point is like what Jesus wrote to the church at Ephesus:

Revelation 2:7 NKJV

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’

Revelation 2:7

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So, back to our text, the battle was a total victory for the Philistines.

It was total victory for the Philistines.

We knew that Saul’s reign was a tragic one that would not end well, but how sad is it that three of his sons should die with him on the battlefield.

Jonathan had dreamed of serving David in his reign, but that would not come to be.

It is often that the sins of one person bring pain and even death to others.

“There is a sin leading to death” (, nkjv).

1 John 5:16 NKJV

If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.

Saul is not the only one in this book who’s sins affected others … The sins of both Saul and Eli cost them their lives and the lives of their sons.

And let’s not forget that David’s sin of self-de

A king and a priest.

God is no respecter of persons.

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Humiliating the prisoners and the dying … and stripping the dead were what a victorious army did after the battle.

Most soldiers were not paid a wage, but were guaranteed a part of the spoils of war.

the chief activities of a victorious army, for the spoils of battle were a big part of their wages for risking their lives.

And we see here that is exactly what went on.

The Philistines cut off Saul’s head.

And they stripped off his armor.

Then they placed his armor in the temple of their gods as an offering to them.

According to the parallel passage in , the armor was put in the temple of their goddess Ashtareth, and the head in the temple of Dagon.

They also took bodies of Saul and his 3 sons and displayed them on the walls of Beth Shean … a fortress city set on the top of a tall hill.

Beth Shean is located 4 miles west of the Jordan River and 15 miles south of the Sea of Galilee, at the junction of the Jordan valley and the Jezreel valley.

The city was at a major cross-road of ancient trade routes.

the city was a major cross-road of ancient trade routes.

And so the body of Israel’s king and his sons would have been visible to a great number of people who lived near and passed by.

The ruins of Beth Shean can be visited today atop Tel Beth Shean.

The Philistines took great joy in abusing Saul’s body.

They stripped off his armor and cut off his head, and after parading both from place to place in their land (), they displayed them in their temples.

The armor was put in the temple of their goddess Ashtareth, and the head in the temple of Dagon.

Finally, they publicly displayed the mutilated corpses of Saul and his sons on the outside of the city wall of Bethshan, a Philistine controlled city in the Jezreel Valley.

For a Jew not to receive proper burial was both humiliating and sacrilegious, and for the body to be mutilated and then exposed was even more scandalous.

But to display his body on the city walls was to proclaim victory over the Israelites.

AND a king’s head was a treasured prize used as a means of boasting of one’s conquests.

A king’s head was a treasured prize used as a means of boasting of one’s conquests.

Placed in the Temple of Dagon, it was saying their god had triumphed over Israel’s God.

The Philistines were letting everyone know that they had won a great victory over their chief enemy, the people of Israel.

The Philistines were letting their people and their idols know that they had won a great victory over their chief enemy, the people of Israel.

And they wanted people to believe that Dagon had triumphed over Jehovah!

But that was not the case, for in the defeat of Saul and Israel, God demonstrates that He in control.

The man “happened” to be at the battle but was obviously there to steal loot, and he had taken the two insignias of royalty from Saul’s dead body.

The account of Saul’s death given to David by the Amalekite was primarily a lie. The man “happened” to be at the battle but was obviously there to steal loot, and he had taken the two insignias of royalty from Saul’s dead body. He had not put Saul out of his misery because Saul had committed suicide and was dead when the man arrived. After removing the royal crown and bracelet, the Amalekite, (who may have been a mercenary in one of the armies) should have safely removed the body from the field and protected it until it could have proper burial. He thought that his heroic acts would win David’s approval, but they only brought him death.

Unlimited in His power, unrivaled in His majesty, and not obstructed by anything outside Himself, God is in complete control of all circumstances.

He had not put Saul out of his misery because Saul had committed suicide and was dead when the man arrived.

After removing the royal crown and bracelet, the Amalekite, (who may have been a mercenary in one of the armies) should have safely removed the body from the field and protected it until it could have proper burial.

He thought that his heroic acts would win David’s approval, but they only brought him death.

Because of Saul’s sins, he first lost his dynasty (13:11–14) and then his kingdom (15:24–31), and finally he lost his crown.

He causes or allows them for His own good purposes and plans … so that they may be fulfilled exactly as He has foreordained.

The warning of our Lord in is applicable at this point: “Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (nkjv).

“Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward” (, nkjv).

v11-13

While the Philistines were celebrating their defeat of Israel and humiliating Saul and his sons, the men of Jabesh Gilead heard about the tragedy and came to the rescue.

That name Jabesh Gilead might ring a bell with you.

This was the city that Saul rescued from Nahash and the Ammonite army back in chapter 11.

So, the people of the city felt an obligation to vindicate Saul’s memory.

All of their valiant men traveled 15-20 miles during the night.

They went to Beth Shean and took possession of the bodies of Saul and his 3 sons.

And this wasn’t any easy task.

In order to make this trip, they had to cross the Jordan River and go through enemy territory.

They had to sneak up the hill past lookouts and guards, scale the city wall, and carry the bodies out.

Which is remarkable for the men of Jabesh Gilead, who in chapter 11 were cowering under the threats of Nahash.

Cremation was not a normal Jewish way of treating the bodies of the deceased.

It was commanded as a means of disposing of the body of a criminal, and of course for burnt offerings, but the Bible does not sanction human offerings.

Burning the dead is mentioned elsewhere only in in relation to the treatment of diseased bodies.

And in

It might have been that in this case the bodies were so badly decomposed that there was a risk of disease from them.

Whatever the case, their intent was to give Saul and his sons a good burial under the tamarisk tree.

And as a show of respect, they fasted for 7 days.

The Tamarisk tree was often used as a monument or marker because it was tall and stood out in the landscape … it is an evergreen tree and can reach a height of 50 feet.

In fact, Saul would often hold court under a Tamarisk tree as he did chapter 22.

It was under the shade of this monument tree that the bones of Saul and his sons were buried.

But they didn’t remain there … Eventually the remains of Saul and his sons were removed to the family tomb by David. ().

Saul hadn’t been a spiritual leader, but he was a courageous leader and the first king of Israel.

Saul hadn’t been a spiritual leader, but he was a courageous leader and the first king of Israel.

And even if we can’t respect the man, we must show respect for the office.

Even if we can’t respect the man, we must show respect for the office.

These men risked their lives a second time and carried the bodies to Jabesh Gilead.

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Saul is one of the most powerful O.T. examples for believers.

We are each flawed, and each of us have our own weaknesses.

Saul remains one of the most powerful O.T. examples for believers. We are each flawed, and each has his or her own weaknesses. As events will show, David certainly did! Yet if our hearts are constantly turned to God, the Lord can protect us from our weaknesses even as He uses our strengths. The wonderful word for us in the story of Saul is, “You and I do not have to end our life as Saul did, a failure.” We can make different choices, and succeed in this world!

There they burned the bodies to remove the mutilated and decayed flesh, and they left the bones for burial.

As we will see as we continue our study ... David certainly had weaknesses!

Yet if our hearts are constantly inclined to the LORD, He can protect us from our weaknesses … even as He uses our strengths.

You and I do not have to end our life as Saul did, a failure.” We can make different choices, and succeed in this world!

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They didn’t cremate the bodies, because cremation wasn’t a Jewish practice.

In times of emergency, the Jews would burn corpses that were so mutilated and decayed they couldn’t be properly washed and anointed for burial; and then they would give honorable burial to the bones.

After the people of Jabesh Gilead buried the bones, they fasted for seven days.

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It was their tribute to Saul and his sons.

Saul had often held court under a tree in Ramah (22:6), and now he was buried with three of his sons under a tree near Jabesh Gilead.

Later, David disinterred the bones of Saul and Jonathan and had them buried in their family’s tomb in Benjamin ().

Let’s close out our study of 1 Samuel with a review.

i

After the death of Joshua, Israel gradually became a divided nation.

Instead of trusting the Lord, the Israelites began to learn the customs of the Canaanites.

They began to worship their false gods.

And it wasn’t too long until the people were doing what was right in their own eyes and paying little concern to the covenant they had made with the LORD.

Then the people demanded a king, like the other nations had.

God answered their request and gave them Saul.

But Saul was not the solution to their problems.

In fact, he made some of their problems even worse.

God was using Saul to prove to the people that their greatest need was to trust in Him and obey His Word.

It wasn’t until David appeared on the scene that national events began to take a different turn and things began to look up.

And we will see this as well as many struggles as we move into 2 Samuel.

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Saul is one of the most powerful O.T. examples for believers.

As we wrap up our study, I’d like us to take a few moments to think back to some of the people in this book.

There was Hannah, the wife of Elkanah.

She was

We are each flawed, and each of us have our own weaknesses.

As we will see as we continue our study ... David certainly had weaknesses!

Yet if our hearts are constantly inclined to the LORD, He can protect us from our weaknesses … even as He uses our strengths.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from Your mouth. Nourish us in the word we have received this evening and strengthen us to serve and glorify You. We thank You that we are secure in Your hands according to the riches of Your grace. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.