1 Samuel 31

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31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, Saul's sons.
31:3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
31:4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
31:5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
31:7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
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.
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.
31:10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
31:11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; 31:12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
31:13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

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Everything King James Bible:1 Samuel

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: 1 Samuel
Book: 1 Samuel
Chapter: 31

Overview:
Saul's defeat and Death. (1-7) Saul's body rescued By the men
of Jabesh-Gilead. (8-13)

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.

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 the 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.