1 Samuel 31
13 verses
Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, die in battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa (31:1-2), with Saul's armor-bearer killing him rather than allowing him to be taken alive by the Philistines (31:4-5); the Philistines discover Saul's body and strip it, fastening it to the wall of Beth-shean as a trophy (31:8-10). The people of Jabesh-gilead, remembering Saul's first victory on their behalf (1 Samuel 11), recover Saul's body and those of his sons at night and give them a proper burial, fasting seven days in mourning (31:11-13)—a concluding act of dignity that honors Saul despite his tragic failure. The book ends with Saul's defeat and death, the closing of the era of judges and the failed human monarchy, and the stage set for David's emergence as the truly covenanted king: Saul's death resolves the tension between his kingship and David's anointing, and the way is cleared for the establishment of the Davidic covenant. The final image of Saul's body on the walls of Beth-shean—exposed and dishonored—stands in stark contrast to the buried and honored remains at Jabesh-gilead, suggesting that though human authority fails, the bonds of covenant community (Jabesh-gilead's memory of Saul's saving action) persist beyond individual tragedy.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
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2
And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi–shua, Saul’s sons.
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3
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
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4
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
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5
And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
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6
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
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7
And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, 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.
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8
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.
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9
And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
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10
And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth–shan.
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11
And when the inhabitants of Jabesh–gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
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12
All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth–shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
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13
And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
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