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1 Chronicles 10:1-14 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Now the Philistines H6430 fought H3898 against Israel; H3478 and the men H376 of Israel H3478 fled H5127 from before H6440 the Philistines, H6430 and fell down H5307 slain H2491 in mount H2022 Gilboa. H1533

2 And the Philistines H6430 followed hard H1692 after H310 Saul, H7586 and after H310 his sons; H1121 and the Philistines H6430 slew H5221 Jonathan, H3129 and Abinadab, H41 and Malchishua, H4444 the sons H1121 of Saul. H7586

3 And the battle H4421 went sore H3513 against Saul, H7586 and the archers H3384 H7198 hit H4672 him, and he was wounded H2342 of the archers. H3384

4 Then said H559 Saul H7586 to his armourbearer, H5375 H3627 Draw H8025 thy sword, H2719 and thrust H1856 me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised H6189 come H935 and abuse H5953 me. But his armourbearer H5375 H3627 would H14 not; for he was sore H3966 afraid. H3372 So Saul H7586 took H3947 a sword, H2719 and fell H5307 upon it.

5 And when his armourbearer H5375 H3627 saw H7200 that Saul H7586 was dead, H4191 he fell H5307 likewise on the sword, H2719 and died. H4191

6 So Saul H7586 died, H4191 and his three H7969 sons, H1121 and all his house H1004 died H4191 together. H3162

7 And when all the men H376 of Israel H3478 that were in the valley H6010 saw H7200 that they fled, H5127 and that Saul H7586 and his sons H1121 were dead, H4191 then they forsook H5800 their cities, H5892 and fled: H5127 and the Philistines H6430 came H935 and dwelt H3427 in them.

8 And it came to pass on the morrow, H4283 when the Philistines H6430 came H935 to strip H6584 the slain, H2491 that they found H4672 Saul H7586 and his sons H1121 fallen H5307 in mount H2022 Gilboa. H1533

9 And when they had stripped H6584 him, they took H5375 his head, H7218 and his armour, H3627 and sent H7971 into the land H776 of the Philistines H6430 round about, H5439 to carry tidings H1319 unto their idols, H6091 and to the people. H5971

10 And they put H7760 his armour H3627 in the house H1004 of their gods, H430 and fastened H8628 his head H1538 in the temple H1004 of Dagon. H1712

11 And when all Jabeshgilead H3003 H1568 heard H8085 all that the Philistines H6430 had done H6213 to Saul, H7586

12 They arose, H6965 all the valiant H2428 men, H376 and took away H5375 the body H1480 of Saul, H7586 and the bodies H1480 of his sons, H1121 and brought H935 them to Jabesh, H3003 and buried H6912 their bones H6106 under the oak H424 in Jabesh, H3003 and fasted H6684 seven H7651 days. H3117

13 So Saul H7586 died H4191 for his transgression H4604 which he committed H4603 against the LORD, H3068 even against the word H1697 of the LORD, H3068 which he kept H8104 not, and also for asking H7592 counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, H178 to enquire H1875 of it;

14 And enquired H1875 not of the LORD: H3068 therefore he slew H4191 him, and turned H5437 the kingdom H4410 unto David H1732 the son H1121 of Jesse. H3448

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Commentary on 1 Chronicles 10 Matthew Henry Commentary

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Chapter 10

The design of Ezra, in these books of the Chronicles, was to preserve the records of the house of David, which, though much sunk and lessened in a common eye by the captivity, yet grew more and more illustrious in the eyes of those that lived by faith by the nearer approach of the Son of David. And therefore he repeats, not the history of Saul's reign, but only of his death, by which way was made for David to the throne. In this chapter we have,

  • I. The fatal rout which the Philistines gave to Saul's army, and the fatal stroke which he gave himself (v. 1-7).
  • II. The Philistines' triumph therein (v. 8-10).
  • III. The respect which the men of Jabesh-Gilead showed the royal corpse (v. 11, 12).
  • IV. The reason of Saul's rejection (v. 13, 14).

1Ch 10:1-7

This account of Saul's death is the same with that which we had, 1 Sa. 31:1, etc. We need not repeat the exposition of it. Only let us observe,

  • 1. Princes sin and the people suffer for it. It was a bad time with Israel when they fled before the Philistines and fell down slain (v. 1), when they quitted their cities, and the Philistines came and dwelt in them, v. 7. We do not find that they were at this time guilty of idolatry, as they had been before, in the days of the judges, and were afterwards, in the days of the kings. Samuel had reformed them, and they were reformed: and yet they are thus given to the spoil and to the robbers. No doubt there was enough in them to deserve this judgment; but that which divine Justice had chiefly an eye to was the sin of Saul. Note, Princes and great men should in a special manner take heed of provoking God's wrath; for, if they kindle that fire, they know not how many may be consumed by it for their sakes.
  • 2. Parents sin and the children suffer for it. When the measure of Saul's iniquity was full, and his day came to fall (which David foresaw, 1 Sa. 26:10), he not only descended into battle and perished himself, but his sons (all but Ishbosheth) perished with him, and Jonathan among the rest, that gracious, generous man; for all things come alike to all. Thus was the iniquity of the fathers visited upon the children, and they fell as parts of the condemned father. Note, Those that love their seed must leave their sins, lest they perish not alone in their iniquity, but bring ruin on their families with themselves, or entail a curse upon them when they are gone.
  • 3. Sinners sin and at length suffer for it themselves, though they be long reprieved; for, although sentence be not executed speedily, it will be executed. It was so upon Saul; and the manner of his fall was such as, in various particulars, answered to his sin.
    • (1.) He had thrown a javelin more than once at David, and missed him; but the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.
    • (2.) He had commanded Doeg to slay the priests of the Lord; and now, in despair, he commands his armour-bearer to draw his sword and thrust him through.
    • (3.) He had disobeyed the command of God in not destroying the Amalekites, and his armour-bearer disobeys him in not destroying him.
    • (4.) He that was the murderer of the priests is justly left to himself to be his own murderer; and his family is cut off who cut off the city of the priests. See, and say, The Lord is righteous.

1Ch 10:8-14

Here,

  • I. From the triumph of the Philistines over the body of Saul we may learn,
    • 1. That the greater dignity men are advanced to the greater disgrace they are in danger of falling into. Saul's dead body, because he was king, was abused more than any other of the slain. Advancement makes men a mark for malice.
    • 2. That, if we give not to God the glory of our successes, even the Philistines will rise up in judgment against us and condemn us; for, when they had obtained a victory over Saul, they sent tidings to their idols-poor idols, that knew not what was done a few miles off till the tidings were brought to them, nor then either! They also put Saul's armour in the house of their gods, v. 10. Shall Dagon have so honourable a share in their triumphs and the true and living God be forgotten in ours?
  • II. From the triumph of the men of Jabesh-Gilead in the rescue of the bodies of Saul and his sons we learn that there is a respect due to the remains of the deceased, especially of deceased princes. We are not to enquire concerning the eternal state; that must be left to God: but we must treat the dead body as those who remember it has been united to an immortal soul and must be so again.
  • III. From the triumphs of divine Justice in the ruin of Saul we may learn,
    • 1. That the sin of sinners will certainly find them out, sooner or later: Saul died for his transgression.
    • 2. That no man's greatness can exempt him from the judgments of God.
    • 3. Disobedience is a killing thing. Saul died for not keeping the word of the Lord, by which he was ordered to destroy the Amalekites.
    • 4. Consulting with witches is a sin that fills the measure of iniquity as soon as any thing. Saul enquired of one that had a familiar spirit, and enquired not of the Lord, therefore he slew him, v. 13, 14. Saul slew himself, and yet it is said, God slew him. What is done by wicked hands is yet done by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Those that abandon themselves to the devil shall be abandoned to him; so shall their doom be. It is said (1 Sa. 28:6) that Saul did enquire of the Lord and he answered him not: but here it is said, Saul did not enquire of God; for he did not till he was brought to the last extremity, and then it was too late.