Thursday, July 10, 2025
Defeat and Death of Saul and His Sons
10 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan, [a]Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers [b]overtook 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, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died. 6 Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.
7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
8 It came about the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.
Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul
11 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 for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 10:2 In 1 Sam 14:49, Ishvi
- 1 Chronicles 10:3 Lit found him
Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors.
For the choir director; set to [a]Al-tashheth. A [b]Mikhtam of David, [c]when he fled from Saul in the cave.
57 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,
For my soul takes refuge in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction passes by.
2 I will cry to God Most High,
To God who accomplishes all things for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches him who [d]tramples upon me. [e]Selah.
God will send forth His lovingkindness and His [f]truth.
4 My soul is among lions;
I must lie among those who breathe forth fire,
Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows
And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
6 They have [g]prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They dug a pit before me;
They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah.
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the [h]nations.
10 For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens
And Your [i]truth to the clouds.
11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
Footnotes
- Psalm 57:1 Lit Do Not Destroy
- Psalm 57:1 Possibly, Epigrammatic Poem or Atonement Psalm
- Psalm 57:1 1 Sam 22:1; 24:3
- Psalm 57:3 Or snaps at
- Psalm 57:3 Selah may mean: Pause, Crescendo or Musical interlude
- Psalm 57:3 Or faithfulness
- Psalm 57:6 Or spread
- Psalm 57:9 Lit peoples
- Psalm 57:10 Or faithfulness