1 Samuel 31 Saul’s death
We have come to the end of Saul’s reign. Saul’s death will make way for David’s kingdom. This battle with the Philistines will take Saul and his sons’ lives.
Saul KNOWS how this battle is going to end. Instead of running away, he stands with his people and fights until he can fight no more. To me, that is a mark of true bravery. I don’t know what I would have done in his position. Hopefully, I will never find out.
Saul’s defeat was because of his own sin. We are told of three specific incidences of incredible sin on his part. The first was offering unauthorized sacrifice. The second was in not obeying the Lord when he went against the Amalekites. And his final one was consulting the witch at En-dor. From David’s story, we know that Saul also attempted murder himself against David on at least two separate occasions. These sins turned the Lord’s hand against him. And they resulted in the kingdom being ripped from his hands. Saul’s second sin was what sealed his fate. Let’s rejoin the story as he ‘reaps the consequences’ of his actions.
♥ ♦ ♥
Saul is soul weary. He has known for a long time that his kingdom will not endure. He knew Samuel spoke the truth the day he confronted him but Saul refused to accept this. He has also known that it would be David who would raise Israel back up. Saul has railed against this knowledge; until today.
Saul begged and pleaded with God to answer him and tell him Israel’s future. In the dark of night, Saul had stolen away to the witch of En-dor to have his question answered by Samuel. Samuel’s spirit confirmed what Saul already knew in his heart; this day would end his life. But Saul had not counted on this day ending the lives of his sons too. He had exacted a solemn promise from David not to kill his family when he took the throne. As deeply as he hated the thought of David on the throne, Saul trusted him to keep his word. Now, though, Saul knows his sons will fall with him in battle. Worse still, so will Israel.
Saul wishes with all his might that he could stand on the hill and command the people to flee for their lives. He wishes he could lock his sons in a safe room and hide them away while this battle plays out. He can do neither. He has to walk the road before him. He has to bravely stride into battle, no matter what awaits.
Saul rises from his pallet and allows his armor bearer to strap on his armor. The weight of it is nothing compared to the weight sitting upon his mind. He uses all his will to push Samuel’s words to the back of his mind. He also pushes the question of David’s hand in this battle away. It doesn’t matter, he has a battle to fight and he will do his duty. His captains will be arriving shortly for last minute battle plans. He must be ready, including fixing his eyes with a desire for war. He may not feel the part but he WILL look it!
The battle tactics are simple for today. Saul’s sons will stay near him. He wants them close enough where he can keep an eye on them. Their first objective is to maintain the high ground. Mt. Gilboa is where Israel will make its stand. The ranks fan out to the left and right, three battalions deep. Saul, his sons, and his elite troops will take the summit.
The remaining forces of Israel will be stationed in front of the hill and will be the push mounted against the Philistines. When the Philistines lines brake, all those on the hill will join the push too. The Philistines will have a hard fight on their hands.
Outwardly Saul will hear no arguments. Israel will prevail. Inside, though, his heart is filled with fear as he takes his position of the battlefield. The Philistines take their positions across the valley from Israel. All s in readiness.
The ram’s horn sounds with a long blast and Israel’s soldiers let out a cry of war. The Philistines blow their trumpet and their soldiers issue their own war cry. Both forward forces surge into the connecting valley. Swords clang, men cry out, and many of them fall to the ground.
In the front ranks on the hillside both groups notch arrows and shot over the heads of those clashing immediately below them. The Philistines’ armor is better at deflecting Israel’s arrows that make it through their shields. Archers have to be extremely accurate to penetrate the joints in Philistine armor. Israel has many such skilled archers but they are not enough to counter the archers of the Philistines. Arrows penetrate Israel’s leather armor with ease.
In the valley, Israel is being pushed back towards Mt. Gilboa. Those waiting in the ranks stand ready to join in the fight. As the Philistines exhaust the available targets before them they surged into the second ranks. The brave men of Israel stand their ground as long as they can. When the Philistines push easily through the second ranks and their arrows are flying into the third ranks, the men of Israel turn to flee. They know the battle is lost and their only chance at life is to leave it behind. The Philistines are too many and too strong.
Saul and his sons stand their ground until the retreating forces reach their position. The Philistines were right behind them. Saul’s family joined in the retreat.
Jonathan, who is doing his best to ensure the safety of those fleeing around him, is the first of Saul’s sons to fall. He was struck deep in the chest with an arrow which was followed by a sword thrust through his middle. Abinadab and Malchi-shua fall together as they stand back-to-back in the midst of the surge. Saul sees them each fall. He had turned when he heard his eldest cry out. His eyes behold Samuel’s words, carried out right in front of him.
Saul cannot tear his eyes away from the carnage that stripped his sons of their lives until an arrow pierces him. He is impaled through his upper chest. He fells his lungs burning, struggling to sustain him. He knows he cannot flee nor fight in his current condition. The Philistines will be on him any moment. He also knows the cruelty of the Philistines and how they treated the rulers of those they have conquered. They tortured them and humiliated them before the people. He will not let this be his fate! He looks to his armor bearer for relief.
“Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me” (verse 4a).
“No my king! I cannot do this. The Lord would strike me where I stand. Let me carry you to safety instead.”
“You would never make it and I would be left in their hands.” As soon as he said these words he drew his own sword, turned it around so the tip faced him, rests the hilt on the ground and pushed himself upon it. It goes through his midsection and into his chest. He does not stop pushing until his life leaves him.
His armor bearer watches in horror. Horror for his own cowardice as well as his own fate. He has failed his king. When Saul needed him most, he had refused to serve him and was incapable of helping him now. If he makes it from this battle alive, he will be killed for his failures. Knowing his fate is sealed either way, he follows his king’s example. He takes out his own sword and falls upon it.
The battle raged all day. The cities who were behind the lines and able to see Israel’s soldiers fleeing joined in their retreat. They did not want to be left unprotected when the Philistines reached them. They abandoned everything but their lives. All around was chaos.
When night finally comes, thousands upon thousands lay dead in the wake of the Philistines. Cities abandoned by Israel now host Philistine victory celebrations. Much of Israel had retreated back across the Jordan.
Morning breaks and the Philistines set out to collect their spoils. Of utmost importance is locating the bodies of the king and his sons. Their fates will be an example to Israel of the cost of rebellion. The kings of the Philistines lament that these men were not taken alive from the battlefield, but they will settle for making a public display of them instead.
Saul and his sons’ bodies are found where they fell on Mt. Gilboa. Their bodies are taken to where the kings wait and thrown at their feet. The king of Gath has a fitting ‘punishment’ he will inflict on Saul. He pulls Saul’s sword from his body and uses it to cut off his head, just as David had done with Goliath. Saul and his sons are stripped of their armor. This will be added to the treasures in their temple of Ashtaroth. Messengers are then sent with pieces torn from their royal garments to carry the good news throughout the land of the Philistines. They will ensure that all know of their great victory.
The bodies of Saul, Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua are loaded on carts and brought to the city of Beth-shan. This city is high enough that it is visible by much of Israel, even on the other side of the Jordan. Ropes are looped around each appendage of these men’s bodies. Those ropes are then pulled in opposite directions until the joints are pulled from their sockets. The ropes are then tied to stakes that had been driven into the walls of the city. Saul and his sons are now on display for all Israel to see.
One town in Israel isn’t close enough to be witness to this dishonorable display but they hear of it from those who have witnessed it. This town has a special connection with their king. In the earliest days of his reign, even before actually accepting the mantle of king, Saul came to their rescue. Jabesh-gilead is this town. They will NOT stand idly by while their king and his sons’ bodies are desecrated. The men of the city band together to right this wrong. They will render to Saul in death the kindness he rendered to them in life.
They have to sneak behind enemy lines to accomplish their task. They move only under cover of darkness. First, they station carts in a place where they won’t be observed. A nearby hillside gives them the cover they need. From here, they set out in the night with ropes of their own to scale the city walls, and knives to cut the ropes securing their king and his sons in this shameful array.
As the men approach the city, they are grateful to hear the sounds of celebration emanating from within. The Philistines are still celebrating their victory. The only guards posted are at the gates to the city. Even they look longingly into the center of the excitement. It would be SO fitting if the men could fall upon them in their moment of glory, but this group has neither the manpower, nor the weapons for such a task. They are here for their king and his sons. Nothing more.
Quickly and as quietly as possible, ropes are thrown over the spikes of the timbers used in the wall’s construction. The best climbers make their way up the ropes and quietly slip over the top and onto the walkway for the guards. They crouch low to the ground as they make their way to the places where the ropes holding the bodies of the royal family are fastened. One by one, these ropes are released from their cleats. When the last rope is untied, the goodies are gently lowered into the waiting arms of those stationed below. Those who receive the bodies carefully cut the ropes from their bodies and wrapped in the finest linen Jabesh-gilead could provide. Then they carried them away to the waiting carts. It seems like the Lord is watching over them in their task as not once are they discovered by anyone.
Upon reaching Jabesh-gilead the people gather to honor their king. They stand witness as Saul and his sons’ bodies are burned. When nothing but the bones remain, the are collected from the ashes. They are carefully washed and wrapped in the finest linen. The final step is to bury them under a tamarisk tree. They people knew of Saul’s fondness for a tamarisk tree that grew in his own courtyard and felt this a fitting place to lay him to rest. The entire city fasted for seven days as their final tribute to Saul, the king who redeemed their city.
(to be continued)
I find it intriguing that MANY of the future kings of Israel will commit more, and even worse, sins and yet maintain their place on the throne. Even Solomon, who built temples and worshiped the gods of his wives, was not removed from the throne. We know that this favor was due to God’s promise to David. Solomon’s son lost most of the kingdom though, because of Solomon’s sin; and his own hubris. Let me just say that, Israel never had the best story with their kings. They were ALL flawed. Even David committed adultery and had a man murdered so he could have his wife.
I’m glad I don’t have to hold my life up for examination! I know that I have made some whopper mistakes too. I’m MORE than grateful for God’s grace!!!
Father God, thank You again for sharing Your stories with me. Thank You for allowing me to take a peek into them in a new way. THANK YOU for Your grace! I would be just as dead as Saul without it.
Did Saul repent? Did You forgive him? I’m sure that, if he truly asked, You would have forgiven him. Will I see him in Heaven some day? That’s another ‘wait and see’ situation. And I’m more than happy to wait a while for that answer.
