1 Samuel 31:8

_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._ On the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain. On discovering the corpses of the slaughtered princes on the battlefield, the enemy reserved them for special indignities. They deposited the armour of the king and his sons as votive offerings in the temple х_ BEEYT_ (H1004) _ `ASHTAAROWT_ (H6252), in the house of Ashtaroth (Astarte): see the note at Genesis 14:5; Judges 2:13], and fastened their mutilated bodies on the wall of Beth-shan (Scythopolis). This fortified town, situated at about five or six miles' distance from the battlefield, on

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....

Verse 1 Samuel 31:8. _ON THE MORROW_] It is very likely that the battle and pursuit continued till the night, so that there was no time till the next day to strip and plunder the slain....

DEFEAT AND DEATH OF SAUL (1 Samuel 31:1.). EXPOSITION SAUL AND HIS SONS SLAIN (1 Samuel 31:1). 1 SAMUEL 31:1, 1 SAMUEL 31:2 THE PHILISTINES FOUGHT. Literally it is a participle present, "the Philistines are warring," as if it were a mere resumption of 1 Samuel 28:1. In the battle fou

AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE MORROW,.... The day after the battle, which perhaps was fought till night came on: WHEN THE PHILISTINES CAME TO STRIP THE SLAIN; of their clothes, and take from them whatever was valuable, as their booty: THAT THEY FOUND SAUL AND HIS SONS FALLEN IN MOUNT GILBOA; to which they had betaken themselves, when the battle went against them in the valley; of which see 1 Samuel 28:4....

9. THE DEATH OF SAUL CHAPTER 31 _ 1. Saul wounded in battle (1 Samuel 31:1)_ 2. Saul a suicide (1 Samuel 31:4) 3. The victorious Philistines (1 Samuel 31:7) 4. The bodies recovered and burnt (1 Samuel 31:11) A sad ending to one of the saddest stories of the Bible. Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchi-shua, Saul's sons, fall first. Then Saul is wounded. He asks his armour bearer to make an end of his sufferings. There is no evidence whatever of his repentance and turning unto the Lord. He died as he had lived in rebellion against Jehovah. The armour-bearer refused to kill Saul; then he fell

1 SAMUEL 31. BATTLE OF GILBOA._ Cf._ p. 285, and 2 Samuel 1:6 *. 1 SAMUEL 31:1. Israel was routed, Saul's sons slain, and he himself in danger of being taken prisoner. To avoid this he fell upon his own sword. 3. HE WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED: perhaps read, with LXX, he was wounded by the archers. 1 Samuel 31:4. and thrust me through (_second occurrence) :_ omit with 1 Chronicles 10:4. What Saul fears is not mutilation after death, but being taken alive, and, like Samson, being made to provide sport for the Philistines....

A DIGEST OF CHAPTER 31 1 Samuel 31:1-6 _Saul's death._ Samuel had told Saul that he would die in battle. This came to pass as the armies of Israel and Philistia met in battle on Mt. Gilboa. Saul fell on his sword and killed himself. His sons were killed with him in this fatal battle. 1 Samuel 31:7-13 _Saul's burial._ The Philistines cut off Saul's head and stripped off his armor. They put his armor in the house of their gods the Ashtaroth. They fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. The men of Jabesh-Gilead heard that Saul's body was hanging on Beth-shan. They came by night and took the body and gave it a decent burial. LESSONS FOR LEARNING 1. _The word of God is sure._ Saul had done everything he could to try to thwart God'

DEFEAT OF THE ISRAELITES AT MT. GILBOA. DEATH OF SAUL 6. And all his men] LXX omits....

ISRAEL’S FIRST KING 1 SAMUEL _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 31 SAUL AND HIS SONS DIE V1 The *Philistines fought against the *Israelites on the mountain of Gilboa. The *Israelites ran away and the *Philistines killed many of them. V2 The *Philistines pursued Saul and his sons. They killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. V3 There was a fierce battle near Saul. The men with bows aimed their arrows at Saul and nearly killed him. V4 Saul spoke to the officer who carried his *armour. Saul said, ‘Kill me with your sword. I do not want those *heathen *Philistines to insult me and kill me’. The officer was afraid. He would not do it. So, Saul got his own sword and fell onto the sharp end. V5 The officer saw that Saul was dead. So, the officer fell onto the sharp end of