1 Samuel 31

NOW the Philistines fought against Israel Whilest David was Ingaged against the Amalekites. So he returns to the History which had been interrupted, to give an account of David's concerns.: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul, and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan David's dear friend; God so ordering it for the further exercise of David's Faith and Patience; and that David might depend upon God alone for his Crown, and receive it solely from him, and not from Ionathan; who doubtless, had he lived, would have speedily settled the Crown upon David's Head, which would have in some sort Eclipsed the Glory of God's Grace and Power in this Work. There was also a special Providence of God, in taking away Ionathan, (who of all Saul's Sons, seems to have been the fairest for the Crown) for the preventing Divisions, which have happened amongst the People concerning the Successor: David's way to the Crown being by this means made the more clear., and Abinadab Called also Ishui: 1 Sam. 14. 49. Ishbosheth was not here, being possibly at home for the management of Publick Affairs there., and Malchishua, Sauls sons.

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

Then said Saul unto his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come, and thrust me through, and abuse me Lest they take me, and put me to some shameful and cruel Death.. But his armour-bearer would not, for he was sore afraid: therefore Saul took a sword and fell upon it And died of the Wound, as it follows..

And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

So Saul died with his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men that same day together.

¶ And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley To wit, the Valley of Iezreel, where the Battel was Fought., and they that were on the other side Jordan Or rather, on this side Iordan; for these were in the most danger: and the Hebrew Preposition is indifferently used for on this side, or for beyond., saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled, and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

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

And they cut off his head As the Israelites did by Goliah., and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols To give them the glory of this Victory., and among the people.

And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastned his body to the wall of Beth-shan.

¶ And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead Which was beyond Iordan: for the people on this side Iordan were fled from their Cities, as was now said. heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul:

All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons from the walls of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there Burnt their flesh, after the manner..

And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days To testifie their sorrow for the publick loss of Saul, and of the people of God; and to intreat Gods favour to prevent the utter Extinction of his People. But you must not understand this word of fasting strictly, as if they eat nothing for Seven whole days; but in a more large and general sense, as it is used both in Sacred and Profane Writers; that they did Eat but little, and that seldome; and that but mean Food, and drunk only Water for that time..