I Samuel Chapter 31
Please read: I Samuel 31 –
It is sad to read that the first king of Israel was killed in battle against the Philistines. It is even sadder to read that his sons were also killed in battle that same day including Jonathan. It was exactly as God said it would be. Saul had learned just the day before that he and his sons would die in battle and yet he did not seek to repent and make things right with God.
There was one other son of Saul, Ishbosheth, that was not killed that we will read about later. He was most likely not even fighting that day with his brothers, but he will prove to be a problem for David when trying to assume the throne.
These few verses tell us that this war with the Philistines was not just a little skirmish, but it was a coordinated effort to destroy Israel. The king of Israel and his army were fleeing for their lives. And it was at Mt. Gilboa that they were overtook by the Philistines and killed.
Let's Reflect
1. How many sons of Saul died in the battle that day?
2. Verse 3 tells us that Saul was fatally wounded from arrows that had been shot into his body, but he was still alive. What did he want his armor bearer to do for him?
3. How did Saul die?
4. His armor bearer could not bring himself to do what his king had requested of him. To do so meant a sure death sentence for himself also. But as it was the armor bearer of Saul died too. What was his cause of death?
5. The death of the king was devastating to the land of Israel and the retreat of Saul’s armies caused others to run before being attacked by the Philistines. In verse 7 what does the Bible say about the places on the east side of the Jordan River where Israelites had fled from the Philistines?
6. When the Philistines came back to collect their spoils of war, they disgraced the body of Saul and his sons by decapitating them and hanging their bodies on a wall. Who came to rescue the bodies of Saul and his sons to give them a proper burial?
7. The Philistines had effectively killed the king of Israel and his sons, and they had conquered Israel all along the Jordan River causing a division in the country. What does verse 9 tell us about the condition of the Israelite kingdom?
