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1 Chronicles

Chapter 10

Saul’s Overthrow and Death and more

1 Chronicles 10 recounts Saul’s collapse on Mount Gilboa, the deaths of his sons, and his own death as Israel scatters before the Philistines. The chapter then follows the humiliation of his body, the honor shown by Jabesh-gilead, and the chronicler’s plain verdict that Saul’s unfaithfulness ends his reign and clears the way for David.

This chapter closes Saul’s story at the threshold of David’s rise. It gives the book’s reason for the transfer of the kingdom, so the reign that follows begins not with accident or force but with the LORD’s judgment and choice.

3 sections·315 words·~1 min read

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1 Chronicles 10

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vv. 1-6

Saul’s Overthrow and Death

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N1ow the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2The Philistines followed hard after 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.

4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and torture me!” 5When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died. 6So Saul died together with his three sons and all his house.

vv. 7-10

The Philistines Possess the Towns

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W7hen all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army 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 sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9They stripped Saul, cut off his head, took his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people. 10They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon.

vv. 11-14

Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul

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W11hen all the people of Jabesh-gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all their men of valor set out and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

13So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, 14and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

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  1. 01vv. 1-6Saul’s Overthrow and DeathIsrael breaks before the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, and Saul’s sons fall beside him. Wounded and cornered, Saul chooses death, and his house falls with him.
  2. 02vv. 7-10The Philistines Possess the TownsWith Saul dead and the army gone, Israelites abandon their towns and the Philistines take possession of them. The victors then strip Saul’s body and turn his defeat into a public offering to their gods and people.
  3. 03vv. 11-14Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to SaulThe men of Jabesh-gilead answer Saul’s disgrace with courage, retrieving and burying the bodies and mourning in fasting. The chapter ends by naming Saul’s unfaithfulness and by saying the kingdom passes to David because Saul did not seek the LORD.
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