1 Samuel 31:9

_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._ No JFB commentary on these 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....

Verse 1 Samuel 31:9. _AND THEY CUT OFF HIS HEAD_] It is possible that they cut off the heads of his three sons likewise; for although only _his_ _head_ is said to be cut off, and _his body_ only to be fastened to the walls of Beth-shan, yet we find that the men of Jabesh-gilead found both _his body_ and the _bodies_ of _his three sons_, fastened to the walls, 1 Samuel 31:12. Perhaps they only took off Saul's head, which they sent about to their temples as a trophy of their victory, when they sent the news of the defeat of the Israelites through all their coasts, and at last placed it in the temple of Dagon, 1 Chronicles 10:10....

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 THEY CUT OFF HIS HEAD,.... And fastened it in the temple of Dagon, 1 Chronicles 10:10; perhaps that which was at Ashdod, one of the principalities of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 5:1; AND STRIPPED OFF HIS ARMOUR; or vessels h, his clothes as well as his armour, and what he had about him; as for his crown on his head, and the bracelet on his arm, the Amalekite took them before the Philistines came, 2 Samuel 1:10; AND SENT INTO THE LAND OF THE PHILISTINES ROUND ABOUT: not his head and his armour, for they were placed in the temple of their idols; unless we can suppose these were first carried about for show, and as proofs of the victory: but rather messengers, who were sent

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....

The burial of Saul and his Sons 9. _they cut off his head_ The Anointed of Jehovah fares no better than the uncircumcised Goliath, now that God has forsaken him. _to publish it_ TO PUBLISH THE GOOD NEWS. Sept. εὐαγγελίζοντες. Cp. 2 Samuel 1:20. _in the house of their idols_ In the temples of their idols, which were regarded as the givers of the victory. Cp. ch. 1 Samuel 5:2. Chron. reads "to carry tidings _to their idols_....

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....