This chapter describes the death of Israel’s first king. The scene moves from David’s successful reclamation of captives and property in the south to the major battle taking place in the north. There is no parallel success for the main Israelite army. Most fled and many were killed. It seems that the Philistines targeted Saul and his sons, knowing that an army without leaders is easier to defeat and harder to rebuild.

The fighting was fierce and, whatever Saul’s mental state, he threw himself into the battle. As Mary Evans notes, there is no question of cowardice. It seems that Saul’s sons were killed first and it is possible that Saul was aware of their deaths before he died. Saul was critically wounded by the Philistine archers and, unwilling to fall into the hands of his enemies, he commits suicide. With what little energy he has left, he falls on his sword. Saul’s desire for a quick end and to avoid torture by the Philistines is understandable, but no less tragic.

Saul’s armour-bearer refuses to cooperate in Saul’s death. With the obvious imminence of defeat he was paralyzed by fear. Following Saul’s death, he could see no way out of the situation and he too took his life, hastening a death that was inevitable anyway. Perhaps he also carried a sense of failure in that he had failed to fulfil his role of protecting the king.

The defeat on Mount Gilboa was devastating and appeared decisive. The Philistines occupied towns abandoned by the Israelites and the remnants of the Israelite army fled in disarray.

It is sad to reflect how a man who showed such promise met his death in defeat and estrangement from God. David’s own tribute to Saul awaits the next chapter, but nevertheless some comments are in order.

Saul was God’s choice to be king. His physical stature in itself was worthy of respect. He is described as “an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites – a head taller than any of the others” (1 Sam. 9:2). He was privately anointed king by Samuel, before his public recognition. “Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?” (1 Sam. 10:1). Interestingly, the Septuagint (LXX) and Vulgate have the words “Has not the Lord anointed  you ruler over his people Israel? You will reign over the Lord’s people and save them from the power of their enemies round about. And this will be a sign to you that the Lord has anointed you ruler over his inheritance.” It is not impossible that a portion of the Hebrew text was lost (as may be the case with 1 Sam. 10:24-11:2[1]), but preserved in the LXX.

There was also some unusual prophetic activity going on in Saul’s experience (1 Samuel 10:5-7, 9-11). It seems so tragic that he disobeyed God and threw away his inheritance and anointing through two acts of disobedience (1 Samuel 13; 15). Saul’s pursuit of David demonstrates the actions of a man who has lost God’s blessing and favour.

Saul’s reign was a failure. It ends with the Philistines having the upper hand and there being little foreseeable hope for Israel’s future. Even the length of his reign is uncertain; the Hebrew text has been corrupted, perhaps deliberately. However, one group of Israelites mourned for Saul. The men of Jabesh Gilead rescued the bodies of Saul and his sons (verses 11-13). They hadn’t forgotten how Saul had come to their aid early in his reign when they had been besieged by the Ammonite king (1 Sam. 11:1-11).

Saul’s life is a challenge for older readers. Have we lost our earlier love and devotion and have settled for less than God intended for us?

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[1] See Ministry Magazine | Recovered: a lost portion of the book of Samuel