WHY KING SAUL DIED

Passage: 1 Chronicles 9:35-10:14

Key verse: 10:13

NIV

The Genealogy of Saul(A)

35 Jeiel(B) the father[a] of Gibeon lived in Gibeon.

His wife’s name was Maakah, 36 and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah and Mikloth. 38 Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

39 Ner(C) was the father of Kish,(D) Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan,(E) Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.[b](F)

40 The son of Jonathan:

Merib-Baal,[c](G) who was the father of Micah.

41 The sons of Micah:

Pithon, Melek, Tahrea and Ahaz.[d]

42 Ahaz was the father of Jadah, Jadah[e] was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza. 43 Moza was the father of Binea; Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son.

44 Azel had six sons, and these were their names:

Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.

Saul Takes His Life(H)

10 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.

4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died. 6 So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.

7 When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon.(I)

11 When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead(J) heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.

13 Saul died(K) because he was unfaithful(L) to the Lord; he did not keep(M) the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium(N) for guidance, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned(O) the kingdom(P) over to David son of Jesse.

Footnotes
  1. 1 Chronicles 9:35 Father may mean civic leader or military leader.
  2. 1 Chronicles 9:39 Also known as Ish-Bosheth
  3. 1 Chronicles 9:40 Also known as Mephibosheth
  4. 1 Chronicles 9:41 Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint and 8:35); Hebrew does not have and Ahaz.
  5. 1 Chronicles 9:42 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 8:36); most Hebrew manuscripts Jarah, Jarah
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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Saul's Genealogy Repeated

35 (A)In Gibeon lived the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, and the name of his wife was Maacah, 36 and his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 37 Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth; 38 and Mikloth was the father of Shimeam; and these also lived opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. 39 (B)Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 40 And the son of Jonathan was (C)Merib-baal, and Merib-baal fathered Micah. 41 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and (D)Ahaz.[a] 42 And Ahaz fathered (E)Jarah, and Jarah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. And Zimri fathered Moza. 43 Moza fathered Binea, and (F)Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 44 Azel had six sons and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.

The Death of Saul and His Sons

10 (G)Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died. 6 Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together. 7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army[b] had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 And they put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. 11 But when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

13 So Saul died (H)for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also (I)consulted a medium, seeking guidance. 14 He (J)did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and (K)turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.

Footnotes
  1. 1 Chronicles 9:41 Compare 8:35; Hebrew lacks and Ahaz
  2. 1 Chronicles 10:7 Hebrew they
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. David and Jonathan (9:35-44) Repeating from 8:29-38, the Chronicler focuses on Saul, the first king of Israel to reveal God's mercy to Saul's family through David. Jonathan son of Saul loved David as himself, and they made a covenant together. When his kingdom was established David would care for Jonathan's son Merib-Baal (Mephibosheth). Although the house of Saul would be put to death, this act of mercy preserved his line. 2. Unfaithful Saul's death (1 :1-14) When Saul was faithful to God, he had victories over the Philistines. But when he turned away and stopped inquiring to obey God's will, his army and sons were defeated in battle. Mortally wounded, Saul committed suicide. The people of Jabesh Gilead, whom Saul had courageously rescued in his first act as king, remembered the grace they received and recovered his body. God would turn the kingdom over to David, a man who sought his will.

Prayer: Father, you are always faithful to your word. Help me keep your word and remember your grace.

One Word: Be faithful and seek God's will