1 Chronicles 10

NOw the Philistins fought against Israel Of this and the following verses till v. 13. see my Notes on 1 Sam. 31. where we have the same thing expressed almost in the same words., and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistins, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

And the Philistins followed hard after Saul, and after his sons, and the Philistins slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.

And the battel went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him: and he was wounded of the archers.

Then said Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come, and abuse me: but his armour-bearer would not, for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.

So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house i. e. All his Children, to wit, then present with him, namely, his three sons; as it is expressed, 1 Sam. 31. 6. For it is evident that Ishbosheth and Mephibosheth were not slain. But nothing is more common in Scripture and all Authors, than to understand all of a great and most considerable part. died together.

And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley Which was beneath Mount Gilboa, where the Fight was, v. 1., saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled, and the Philistins came and dwelt in them.

And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistins came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistins round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.

And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon And his Body severed from his Head to the Wall of Bethshan, 1 Sam. 31. 10..

And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistins had done to Saul:

They arose, all the valiant men, 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 To wit, every day till evening, after the manner of the Jewish Fasts..

So Saul died for his transgression The sense is, Wonder not that Saul fell by the Hands of the Philistins, who were armed against him by his own Sin and by Gods Vengeance for it. which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD Against Gods express, and plain, and positive Command: which is a great Aggravation of any Sin., which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit Which also was contrary to a manifest Command, Levit. 19. 31. and moreover contrary to his own Conscience which was so fully convinced hereof, that he had endeavoured the utter Extirpation of all such Persons in pursuance of Gods Law. See 1 Sam. 28. 9., to enquire of it Concerning the Event of the approaching Battel.:

And enquired not of the LORD Obj. Saul enquired of the Lord, 1 Sam. 28. 6. Ans. He did so, but not in a right Manner, not humbly and penitently, not diligently and importunately, not patiently and perseveringly: but when God would not answer him speedily he gives it over and goes from God to the Devil. Compare 1 Sam. 14. 18 19. Such an inconsiderable and trifling Inquiry as Saul made is justly accounted to be no Enquiry at all. As they are said not to eat the Lords Supper, 1 Cor. 11. 20. who did eat it in a sinful and irregular manner.: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.