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1 Samuel 31
1Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
2The Philistines hotly pursued Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
3When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
5When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died with him.
6So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day.
7When the Israelites along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.
8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temples of their idols and among their people.
10They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his body on the wall of Beth-shan.
11When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
12all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.
13Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
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Abinadab: Also Called Ishui, Son of Saul 1 Samuel 31:2
The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
Archery in War 1 Samuel 31:3
When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
Archery: Practiced by the Philistines 1 Samuel 31:1–3
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. / The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. / When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
Armies: March in Ranks: Soldiers Destroy Each Other to Escape Captivity 1 Samuel 31:4–6
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. / When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died with him. / So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day.
Armor-Bearer: Saul 1 Samuel 31:6
So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day.
Arrow used in War 1 Samuel 31:3
When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
Ashtoreth: Temple of 1 Samuel 31:10
They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his body on the wall of Beth-shan.
Beth-Shean: Bodies of Saul and his Sons Exposed In 1 Samuel 31:10, 12
They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his body on the wall of Beth-shan. / all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.
Beth-Shean: Called Beth-Shaw 1 Samuel 31:10, 12
They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his body on the wall of Beth-shan. / all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.
Burial: Burying Places: King Saul's 1 Samuel 31:13
Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
Burial: Places Used for Under Trees 1 Samuel 31:13
Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
Burial: The Body Was: Sometimes Burned Before 1 Samuel 31:12
all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.
Cities: Often Deserted on the Approach of an Enemy 1 Samuel 31:7
When the Israelites along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan saw that the army of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.
Cremation: General Scriptures Concerning 1 Samuel 31:12
all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.
David: King of Israel: Death and Burial of Saul and his Sons 1 Samuel 31:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
Fasting in Times of Bereavement of the People of Jabesh-Gilead, for Saul and his Sons 1 Samuel 31:13
Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
Fasting: National Exemplified: Men of Jabesh-Gilead 1 Samuel 31:13
Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
Gilboa: A Hill South of Jezreel, where Saul Was Defeated by the Philistines, and Died 1 Samuel 31:1–8
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. / The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. / When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
Head of Enemies Slain in War, often Cut off 1 Samuel 31:9
They cut off Saul’s head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temples of their idols and among their people.
Israel: Israel Defeated by the Philistines, and Saul and his Sons are Killed 1 Samuel 31:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
Jabesh-Gilead: Saul and his Sons Buried At 1 Samuel 31:11–13
When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, / all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there. / Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
Jezreel: A Valley: Place of the Defeat of the Israelites Under Saul and Jonathan 1 Samuel 31:1–6
Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. / The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. / When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
Jonathan: Son of Saul: Buried by Inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead 1 Samuel 31:11–13
When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, / all their men of valor set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there. / Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
Jonathan: Son of Saul: Killed in the Battle with the Philistines 1 Samuel 31:2, 6
The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. / So Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day.
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1 Samuel 31:1-7 Verses 1-7
We cannot judge of the spiritual or eternal state of any by the manner of their death; for in that, there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked. Saul, when sorely wounded, and unable to resist or to flee, expressed no concern about his never-dying soul; but only desired that the Philistines might not insult over him, or put him to pain, and he became his own murderer. As it is the grand deceit of the devil, to persuade sinners, under great difficulties, to fly to this last act of desperation, it is well to fortify the mind against it, by a serious consideration of its sinfulness before God, and its miserable consequences in society. But our security is not in ourselves. Let us seek protection from Him who keepeth Israel. Let us watch and pray; and take unto us the whole armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
1 Samuel 31:8-13 Verses 8-13
The Scripture makes no mention what became of the souls of Saul and his sons, after they were dead; but of their bodies only: secret things belong not to us. It is of little consequence by what means we die, or what is done with our dead bodies. If our souls are saved, our bodies will be raised incorruptible and glorious; but not to fear His wrath, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell, is the extreme of folly and wickedness. How useless is the respect of fellow-creatures to those who are suffering the wrath of God! While pompous funerals, grand monuments, and he praises of men, honour the memory of the deceased, the soul may be suffering in the regions of darkness and despair! Let us seek that honour which cometh from God only.