Artwork by Douglas Kallerson
1 Samuel 31:1-13
And He Died, Saul
(Typed 8 June 2026) Israel is in a real pickle with God. They rejected Jesus and continued living under the law, seeking to establish their own righteousness apart from Christ, something demonstrably impossible.
From the time of Moses until the coming of Jesus, a period of about fourteen hundred and fifty years of law, not a single person was able to perfectly perform what God expected.
They have missed this point, and to this day they continue to reject the offer of God in Christ. The epitome of irony is that these ancient stories found in the Old Testament time and again picture Israel when the bad guys are presented.
Amalek has pictured Israel, the Philistines have pictured Israel, Edom has pictured Israel, etc. At times, I read articles from Israel, and they refer to groups of people today and equate them to Amalek, the Philistines, or Edom. I think, “If only you knew what God has been trying to tell you in your own Scriptures.”
It is a sad situation when God says plainly in His word that those who are the circumcision are not those circumcised in the flesh, but in the heart. Israel is so inwardly focused that they have not been able to perceive that what they hold to is just the opposite of what God expects.
Text Verse: “And he died, Saul, in his treachery which he treacherized in Yehovah, upon ‘word, Yehovah’ which not he guarded, and also to ask in the necromancer to inquire. And not he inquired in Yehovah. And He caused to kill him, and He caused to revolve the kingdom to David, ‘son, Jesse’.” 1 Chronicles 10:13, 14 (CG)
In these verses from 1 Samuel, the failings of Saul are ascribed to his own downfall. He failed to honor the Lord, so his kingdom was taken from him and given to David. Because this text verse was on my mind, I had a major stumbling block in trying to figure out what God is telling us in 1 Samuel 31.
Nothing made sense to me as I sat for almost five hours, reading and re-contemplating what is presented in the verses. Only by putting aside my presuppositions and contemplating every possible interpretation I could think of did the contents of the chapter finally come into focus. I was thoroughly surprised at what they are telling us.
I hope you have enjoyed the book of 1 Samuel as much as I have. I have learned so much, and I have an entirely new appreciation for what God is telling us in the matter of law versus grace. It has been an amazing book. This final chapter is no different.
Great truths, such as God’s infinite grace, are to be found in His superior word. And so, let us turn to that precious word once again, and… May God speak to us through His word today, and may His glorious name ever be praised.
I. You Must Outpull Your Sword (verses 1-6)
Now the Philistines fought against Israel;
u-phelishtim nilkhamim beyisrael – “And Philistines ‘being battled in Israel.” Without any review of the events, the narrative abruptly returns to the engagement between the Philistines and Israel mentioned in 28:1 and 29:1. The use of the participle, being battled, resumes the narrative, passing over the intervening accounts as if they weren’t there.
Philistine means Weakener. Israel means He Strives with God.
The battle is engaged, likely somewhere in the great open plain…
1 (con’t) and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines,
vayanusu anshe Yisrael mipene phelishtim – “And they fled, ‘mortals, Israel’, from ‘faces, Philistines’.” Without any details of the battle, the narrator states Israel’s retreat as a fact. Things didn’t go well. The army of Israel turned and fled, heading back to where they were encamped, as recorded in verse 28:4…
1 (con’t) and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
vayipelu khalaim behar ha’gilboa – “And they fell, pierced, in ‘Mount, the Gilboa’.” The Philistines overran Israel and slaughtered the army as they retreated, even into their camp.
In Scripture, the har, mountain, signifies a lot of something gathered. In typology, it is synonymous with a large but centralized group of people. Gilboa is from gal, something rolled and thus a heap, and baah, to gush over and thus to swell. As such, it is The Rolling Fountain.
2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons.
vayadbequ phelishtim eth shaul veeth banav – “And they caused to impinge, Philistines, Saul and his sons.” Eventually, the Philistines caught up to and engaged Saul and his sons on the mountain. With the men of Israel falling in the battle, the outcome for Saul was inevitable. He already knew this would happen because Samuel had told him –
“And He will give, Yehovah, also Israel with you, in ‘hand, Philistines’. And tomorrow, you and your sons – with me. Also, ‘camp, Israel’ He will give, Yehovah, in ‘hand, Philistines’.” 1 Samuel 28:19
Saul means Asked. Without the later added vowel points, his name is identical in spelling to the word Sheol, the place of the dead.
2 (con’t) And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.
vayaku phelishtim eth yehonathan veeth avinadav veeth malkishua bene shaul – “And they caused to strike, Philistines, Jehonathan, and Abinadab, and Malki-shua, ‘sons, Saul’.” Saul outlived his sons. It is the final tragedy of his tragic rule since the day he disobeyed the word of the Lord, failing to honor Him as instructed.
Jehonathan means Yah Has Given. In this account, the letter hey is added to his name as has been seen in other accounts. Hey is the fifth letter of the aleph-bet and means look, reveal, and breath.
Abinadab comes from av, father, and nadav, willing, as in “willing to share,” generous, etc. It means Father of Liberality. Malki-shua is derived from melekh, king, and one of several possible roots. And so, it means something like King of Salvation, King of Help, My King Is Opulence, or King of Wealth.
3 The battle became fierce against Saul.
vatikhbad ha’milkhamah el shaul – “And it enweighed, the battle, unto Saul.” The meaning is that the battle was heavy, like a crushing weight being pressed toward and upon Saul. Eventually, the pressure of the attack overtook him completely…
3 (con’t) The archers hit him,
The Hebrew is more graphic: vayimtsauhu ha’morim anashim baqasheth – “And they found him, the ‘causing to flow mortals’ in the bow.” Those who use the bow and arrow cause the arrows to flow through the air. They aimed at Saul and hit their target. In hitting him, it says…
3 (con’t) and he was severely wounded by the archers.
vayakhel meod meha’morim – “And he whirled, vehemently, from the ‘flowers’.” The word khul means to twist or whirl in a circular or spiral manner. It is used to describe dancing, convulsing, trembling, the pains of birth, etc. In this case, Saul was hit, spinning him around from the shock of the wounds as the arrows pierced him. It may even mean he convulsed from the wounds.
Eventually, he gathered himself together enough to either lean on his spear or lock his knees in order to keep himself standing while giving his final command as the king of Israel…
4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it,
vayomer shaul lenose khelav sheloph kharbekha vedaqereni vah – “And he said, Saul, to ‘lifter, his vessels’, ‘You must outpull your sword, and you must stab me in her.’” The final order of the failed king is to have his own vessel-bearer end his life for him, as he was unwilling to do it himself. He then follows up with an explanation for his order…
4 (con’t) lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.”
pen yavou ha’arelim haeleh u-deqaruni vehitalelu vi – “lest they will come, the foreskinned, the these, and they will stab me, and they will glean themselves in me.’” The word alal signifies to effect thoroughly. It is specifically used concerning the gleaning process, where a person thoroughly picks every grain or every grape, leaving nothing behind.
Saul’s concern is that they will work him over, abuse him, and taunt him until his final breath. If he survived the arrow wounds, they could take him captive and put him on display as they did Samson. Either way, it would not be a pretty ending for Saul.
He was the king of Israel. The Philistines were foreskinned and unclean. He could not bear them having a say over his final moments. Despite his order and his explanation, a negative response comes back…
4 (con’t) But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.
velo avah nose khelav ki yare meod vayiqakh shaul eth ha’kherev vayipol aleha – “And not he acquiesced, ‘lifter, his vessels’, for he feared vehemently. And he took, Saul, the sword, and he fell upon her.” The use of the article before sword is argued by many scholars to mean the sword of the vessel-lifter.
That is possible, but it seems likely that it is referring to Saul’s sword. Either way, the lifter of his vessels would normally be a younger, inexperienced soldier, not yet ready to face battle on his own.
Jewish tradition is that this was Doeg the Edomite. Thus, the sword would supposedly have been the one used to kill the priests of Nob. This seems like a convenient excuse to do away with Doeg as well as Saul’s guilt in such a manner, but it is unlikely.
First, Doeg was a seasoned killer and would have done as he was told. Second, he would not have been an armor bearer. He would have been a soldier in his own right. And third, the text would have clearly identified him by name if this were so.
Such Jewish traditions attempt to absolve the nation of guilt or remove enemies who are unfavorable to their standing in the overall body of Scripture. Quite often, they have no resemblance to the reality of what the text presents.
This vessel-lifter’s job was to follow behind his master and finish off anyone injured but not dead as his master continued to battle. He could not bring himself to do to Saul what he was expected to do to others. Because of the vessel-lifter’s unwillingness to act, Saul had to man up and do the job himself…
5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him.
vayar nose khelav ki meth shaul vayipol gam hu al kharvo vayamath imo – “And he saw, ‘lifter, his vessels’, that he died, Saul, and he fell, also he, upon his sword, and he died with him.” Saying “his sword,” meaning the vessel-lifter’s own sword, negates the thought that this was the same sword Saul died on.
The rabbis’ attempts to align this sword as Doeg’s is an unnecessary stretch of the text. With Saul dead, a concluding thought to the battle in relation to Saul is given…
6 So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day.
vayamath shaul u-sheloshet banav venose khelav gam kal anashav bayom ha’hu yakhdav – “And he died, Saul, and ‘three, his sons’, and ‘lifter, his vessels’. Also, all his mortals in the day, the it, unitedly.” These words confirm the prophecy given by Samuel the previous day, demonstrating that it was the Lord who spoke through him as he conveyed the details to Saul.
Three stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. Bullinger expands on that and says –
“The number three, therefore, must be taken as the number of Divine fulness. It signifies and represents the Holy Spirit as taking of the things of Christ and making them real and solid in our experience. It is only by the Spirit that we realise spiritual things. Without Him and His gracious operation, all is surface work: all is what a plane figure is to a solid (John 3:6). He it is who has wrought all our works in us, and by whom alone we can serve or worship (John 4:24).”
The phrase “Also, all his mortals…” refers to those of Saul’s house, not the entire army. That is made clear in 1 Chronicles 10:6.
Don’t rejoice over the death of Saul
He was one seeking the truth
To rejoice over that is a sad call
But some have done it from their youth
Something is true if it corresponds with reality
To turn from that is not a smart choice
For such an action there will be a penalty
So don’t be smug and don’t rejoice
Those who have found the truth
Will be raised to live some glorious day
Christ’s resurrection is the for-sure proof
God has ordained that it shall be this way
II. House, Ashtaroth (verses 7-13)
7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan,
Rather: vayiru anshe Yisrael asher beever ha’emeq vaasher beever ha’yarden – “And they saw, ‘mortals, Israel’, who in ‘side, the valley,’ and who in ‘side, the Jordan’.” Out of about forty translations that I checked, only Darby correctly identified the location –
“And when the men of Israel that were on this side of the valley, and [they] that were on this side of the Jordan.” Darby
All other translations say, “other side,” “beyond,” “across,” etc. That is incorrect. The word is b’ever, “in side.” It can mean either side, depending on the reference. Multiple examples of this are seen elsewhere.
In this case, it is referring to the area extending from the eastern side of the valley of Jezreel to the western shore of the Jordan River. Most scholars have this wrong as well.
Verse 11 provides evidence that it is referring to this side, as does 1 Chronicles 10:7. You can correct your Bible with a margin note and update your brain squiggle accordingly. A+ and hats off to John Darby.
The Jordan means the Descender. As for what the men saw…
7 (con’t) saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead,
ki nasu anshe Yisrael vekhi methu shaul u-vanav vayaazvu eth hearim vayanusu – “that they fled, ‘mortals, Israel’, and that they died, Saul and his sons. And they relinquished the cities, and they fled.” This shows that not all the soldiers in battle died. The words of verse 6 are limited to Saul, his family, and the men of his house. Because of what transpired, those in this area between the eastern edge of the valley until the western side of the Jordan…
7 (con’t) they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
vayavou phelishtim vayeshevu bahen – “And they came, Philistines, and they sat in them.” This is expected after such a battle, and has been seen since before Israel crossed the Jordan in the book of Joshua. The soldiers stake a claim within the conquered territory, expanding the borders of their empire in the process.
8 So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain,
vayhi mimakhorath vayavou phelishtim lephashet eth ha’khalalim – “And it was, from morrow, and they came, Philistines, to strip the pierced.” The battle probably consumed the majority of the day. Thus, the plundering took place the next day. This is what always occurs after a battle. Anything of value would be stripped from the fallen enemy, including weapons, garments, gold, other precious items, etc.
If the camp was left abandoned, all of the animals, food, tents, war wagons, and other items would be rounded up and plundered as well. While engaged in plundering Israel, it says…
8 (con’t) that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa
vayimtseu eth shaul veeth sheloshet banav nophelim behar ha’gilboa – “And they found Saul and ‘three, his sons’, fallen in ‘Mount, the Gilboa’.” This would be a great and notable part of the victory celebration, lording their achievement over Israel with shouts and taunts…
9 And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor,
vayikrethu eth rosho vayaphshitu eth kelav – “And they cut his head, and they caused to strip his vessels.” The head was all they needed for a victory parade. In fact, it would improve the shock value of any public display. After all such public displays, it says in 1 Chronicles 10 that Saul’s vessels were put in the house of their gods, and his head was fastened in the house of Dagon.
9 (con’t) and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people.
vayshalekhu veerets pelishtim saviv levaser beith atsabehem veeth ha’am – “And they sent in ‘land, Philistines’ around to announce – ‘house, their carvings’, and the people.” This may be connected to the previous words, as in “they sent his head and his armor to announce,” or it may refer to sending runners to proclaim the victory throughout Philistia.
The latter is probably the case, simply because this is what runners were for. They spread the news of victory or defeat to the people as quickly as possible. A new word is seen here, the noun atsav, an image (literally, a carving), coming from the verb atsav, to carve.
It is equivalent to saying, “News of the battle was proclaimed through the churches and among the people of the U.S.” People would be in their temples praying and petitioning. Thus, the word would go to them as well as to the general public, such as in town squares and at the gates of the cities.
10 Then they put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths,
Rather: vayasimu eth kelav beith ashtaroth – “And they put his vessels – ‘house, Ashtaroth’.” This explains the note above from 1 Chronicles 10 about the “house of their gods.” The general word there is given for the specific word in this verse.
The etymology of the word ashtaroth is rather complicated, but Abarim defines it as Unity of Instruction or Clusters of One Law. Samuel continues, saying…
10 (con’t) and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.
veeth geviyato taqeu bekhomath beith shan – “And his body, they slapped in ‘rampart, Beth Shan’.” The word taqa signifies to slap (as with the hands being slapped together). It is used of pitching a tent, blowing a trumpet, slapping hands in a pledge, etc. The sense is forcefully driving pegs through him to fasten him to the khomah, rampart, a wall of protection.
Depending on the root, several possible meanings for Beth Shan are House of Security, House of Perpetuity, House of Sharpness, House of the Tooth, or House of Rest. Outside of the books of Samuel, the location is spelled Beth Shean, with an aleph included. Here and in 2 Samuel it is spelled without the aleph.
11 Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
vayishmeu elav yosheve yavesh gilad eth asher asu phelishtim leshaul – “And they heard, unto it, ‘sitting Jabesh Gilead’ what they did, Philistines, to Saul.” This tells us that the earlier translation of the “other side of the Jordan” is incorrect.Jabesh Gilead is on the other side of the Jordan. If those translations were correct, there would be a contradiction in what is said. Rather, these men heard about what happened in the area on the western side of the river and they determined to act.
Jabesh comes from the verb yavesh, to be dry, dried up, or withered. It is used to describe the drying up of a river, land, bones, etc. It also applies to the withering of grass. Gilead means Perpetual Fountain. Thus, Jabesh Gilead means Dry Perpetual Fountain.
Jabesh Gilead is east of the Jordan in the tribal allotment of Manasseh. Beth Shan is west of the Jordan in the other half of Manasseh’s allotment. They probably received the word of what happened from the Manassites who fled from their homes after the battle. As for the matter…
12 all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan;
vayaqumu kal ish khayil vayelekhu khal halaylah vayiqkhu eth geviyath shaul veeth geviyoth banav mekhomath beith shan – “And they arose, all ‘man, valorous’, and they walked all the night, and they took ‘body, Saul’, and ‘bodies, his sons’ from ‘rampart, Beth Shan’.” This was a brave thing for these men to do. The Philistines controlled the area, and they would be highly motivated to get whoever did it.
Despite that, they were willing to cover the national disgrace of Saul and his sons being exposed on a wall by heroically taking them down and out of the control of the Philistines. The same people remembered the heroic deed of Saul who saved them from Nahash the Ammonite in 1 Samuel 11, and they were willing to expend themselves in Saul’s honor because of it.
12 (con’t) and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.
vayavou yaveshah vayisrephu otam sham – “And they came Jabesh-ward, and they burned them there.” So much for the teaching that they didn’t practice cremation in Israel. It’s a silly argument, I know, but it permeates Christian thinking to the point where it is believed in some cults that you can’t be saved if you are cremated. Pssssh.
Once they were cremated, their bones were buried. In 2 Samuel 2:5, David complimented them for what they did. If burning a body was an offence, David would have struck them, not thanked them. As for the bones of Saul and his sons…
13 Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh,
vayiqkhu eth atsmotehem vayiqberu takhath ha’eshel beyaveshah – “And they took their bones, and they interred under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh-ward.” This is the third of three times the eshel, tamarisk, is seen in the Bible.
The first was in Genesis 21:33 when Abraham planted a tamarisk and called on the Lord, the Everlasting God. In Chapter 22, Saul sat under a tamarisk while determining matters of the kingdom. Because of the narrative in Genesis 21, it can be inferred that the significance of the tamarisk is permanence and reliability.
In 1 Chronicles 10, this same tree will be called elah, often translated as oak. The word signifies strength. Thus, it refers to a strong tree, regardless of type. Next, it says…
*13 (fin) and fasted seven days.
vayatsumu shivath yamim – “And they fasted seven days.” The word tsum signifies to cover the mouth. Think of the mouth as covered when one fasts, keeping anything from coming in. This was in honor of their king and the person who faithfully defended them, keeping them from disaster at the hands of Nahash.
Seven is the number of spiritual perfection.
How terrible, a life without Christ!
Even when people think that they have all the facts
But Jesus alone is how our souls are priced
Without Him, they walk the wrong tracks
Jesus is the path to return to God’s glory
He alone is the way, the truth, and the life
Man cannot come to God apart from the gospel’s story
What is left is only enmity and strife
The fountain is dry, and there is no hope
To reject Jesus is to never find true life
So, come to Him. Don’t be a dope
Living your life against God, in enmity and strife
III. Law or Grace
1 Samuel ends on a sad note theologically. It takes the reader back to an earlier time in Israel’s history, after Christ’s coming and the results of His coming among the people from a spiritual standpoint.
In verse 1, it said that the Philistines, Weakeners, were being battled in Israel, He Strives with God, and that the men of Israel fled from before them. As they fled, they were cut down in Mount the Gilboa. The name signifies “the gathering in the Rolling Fountain.”
A mount signifies a large but centralized group of people. The Rolling Fountain reflects the giving of the Spirit. The Philistines, those who weaken the faith of others through law observance, prevailed over Israel. It is the Judaizers who eventually led Israel away from the truth, also cutting down those who believed until there was none left.
Verse 2 noted that the Weakeners impinged on Saul and his sons. As this is the closing chapter about Saul, we can assume that he no longer pictures man destined for Sheol as in the previous doctrine sermons concerning Sheol, but that he once again reflects those seeking the truth, as he did before Chapter 15. This should be obvious. Sheol doesn’t die, even if it someday has an ending.
The three sons that died with Saul are Jehonathan, Yah Has Given, with the additional hey, indicating the presence of the Spirit. Next is Abinadab, Father of Liberality. In Chapter 7, the name was seen as a reference to the willing and generous nature of the Father to share the work of His Son with all –
“For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’ 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Romans 10:11-13
Third was Malki-shua. Apart from his name being given in genealogical listings, there is nothing to pin down the meaning of his name based on several possible roots. However, a likely candidate, King of Salvation, seems appropriate. If so, all three names point to a state of salvation.
In verse 3, Saul was overwhelmed in the battle, and he was shot by the “flowers” with the bow. The word “flower” is yarah. At times it is used to indicate pointing something out (as with the finger) and thus, to teach. It is the root of the word moreh, teacher.
Saul was taught by the Philistines, the Weakeners, and their doctrine overwhelmed him. In verse 4, Saul told his vessel-lifter to pull out his sword and stab him, not wanting the foreskinned Weakeners to come and thoroughly affect him.
The Weakeners are those who use the law to attack the faith of others. This shows that those who hold to law observance are considered uncircumcised, just as Paul says in Romans 2 –
“For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:25-29
In Philippians 3:3, Paul reaffirms this when contrasting those of faith against those who are only cut in the flesh, saying, “we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit.”
When Saul realized his vessel-lifter wouldn’t help him, it says he took “the sword,” and he fell upon her. Those seeking the truth in Israel died by the law. That is the state that Israel remains in. There was hope in the early church, but the Judaizers and Israel’s leadership eventually killed off searching for the truth in Christ.
After that, Saul’s vessel-lifter took his own sword and fell on it, dying with Saul. The implements of seeking the truth, such as studying the New Testament, were killed off as well.
Verse 6 noted that Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together. Instead of just saying “his sons,” it specifically mentioned three sons. Saul had more than three sons.
As Bullinger noted concerning the number, it “signifies and represents the Holy Spirit as taking of the things of Christ and making them real and solid in our experience. It is only by the Spirit that we realise spiritual things.”
In Israel, after Jesus came, the message of Him was crushed. There was nothing left for the Holy Spirit to do to share the things of Christ with the people.
In verse 7, it said that when those of Israel between the valley and the Jordan saw that Saul and his sons were dead, they fled. Then the Philistines came and dwelt in their cities. The Jordan pictures the time of Christ’s incarnation.
The valley, meaning the valley of Jezreel, refers to the end of the tribulation. Therefore, this covers the entire period between the coming of Christ and the tribulation. As such, this is a note that Israel, during that entire period, will be without Christ.
In verse 8, on the next day, the Philistines, the Weakeners, came to strip the slain. At this time, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa (the gathering in the Rolling Fountain), specifically mentioning the three sons again.
Being a son signifies a similar identity. Those seeking the truth and those who have found it will be completely overwhelmed during this period in Israel’s history. There will be nothing of the Spirit to take the things of Christ and make them real and tangible in the lives of the people.
In verse 9, it said that the Philistines cut off Saul’s head. The Topical Lexicon notes that head speaks of that which is first, highest, and most important. Thus, it speaks of primacy, superiority, and the place from which something proceeds.
David cut off Goliath’s head, demonstrating complete victory over his foe. The Philistines, the Weakeners who use law to weaken the faith of others, have done this to Saul, the king of Israel. He represents those seeking the truth at the time of Christ’s coming.
The head of this movement was cut off, demonstrating complete victory over the Philistines’ foe. Because of this, they announced it as their good news in their image houses and among the people. That corresponds to their synagogues and the culture.
But more, in verse 10, it said that they put Saul’s vessels in the house of the Ashtaroth. This is similar to what happened when Goliath’s sword was placed behind the ephod in the sanctuary. The Ashtaroth, Unity of Instruction, was seen in Chapter 7 to indicate the Law of Moses, One Law.
Saul’s implements for pursuing and gaining victory over the truth have been taken over by the Philistines of Israel, completely eliminating Jesus and the message of truth from the people among the collective body. After that, they slapped Saul’s body to the rampart of Beth Shan.
The name Beth Shan is a contracted form of Beth Shean, where the aleph is dropped out –
בית שן
בית־שאן
Abarim insightfully says of this, “perhaps the author contracted this name to indicate that this House Of Rest became House Of Sharpness when it hosted the humiliation of Saul and his sons and in effect the monarchy of Israel at large.”
I’m not sure how they deduced that, but it is exactingly realized in the nation of Israel to this day.
Verse 11 referred to the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead (Dry Perpetual Fountain) hearing what happened. As seen previously, being on the other side of the Jordan (it is understood, though not stated) signifies the state of those on that side in relation to the timing of the advent of Christ.
For example, even though Christ has come, the people of Israel today would be reflected as being east of the Jordan because they, as a nation, have not yet come to Christ.
Also, it has been previously seen that there is a difference between ha’gilad, the Gilead, and Jabesh Gilead. When the article is used with Gilead (the Perpetual Fountain), it refers to the Holy Spirit. However, Gilead, without the accompanying definite article, speaks of Israel, Perpetual Fountain.
To grasp the meaning, one must think of Israel as the means of providing the Fountain, regardless of whether individuals are included in its transmission or not (Ephesians 2:12). The Spirit is the Mode by which one is included.
During the church age, Gentiles are brought into the commonwealth of Israel along with Jews. However, not all people receive it. Israel is Perpetual Fountain, not The Perpetual Fountain (meaning the Holy Spirit). The use of the article or its lack defines this.
Therefore, Dry Perpetual Fountain reflects those who have no means of providing the Fountain. There is no connection to the Spirit, and thus no ability to provide it. It refers to Israel without the Spirit.
In verse 12, the men of Jabesh Gilead traveled all night to take the bodies of Saul and his sons from the rampart of Beth Shan. After that, they took them to Jabesh, Dry, and burned them there.
In verse 13, it said that they then took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh-ward, thus “toward the Dry.” The tamarisk is a symbol of permanence and reliability.
The hope of seeking Christ in Israel was essentially taken from them to a time before the incarnation (the other side of the Jordan) and burned. From there, the bones left over from the immolation were buried under a tamarisk, a permanent and reliable state that still exists in Israel.
After they buried the bones of Saul and his sons, they fasted seven days, the number of spiritual perfection. There is no spiritual food for Israel to eat throughout the duration of their time under punishment. They are in a state of fasting from the truth of God in Christ while their punishment is executed seven times over (Leviticus 26) for their rejection of Christ.
It is a sad way to end the book of 1 Samuel, but it is not the end of the story for Israel. However, it is a sad state in a sad chapter of their existence as a nation. Someday, their blinders will be removed, and they will see what they currently cannot.
Despite being a sad passage, it is an appropriate way for the book to end. The whole book of 1 Samuel has dealt continuously with the issue of law versus grace. Grace is the preeminent key in Scripture when dealing with a relationship with God.
From the first words uttered to man in the Garden of Eden to the last words of Scripture penned by John, this is the main focus of God’s attention on our relationship with Him. Will we trust Him and, by faith, reach out to Him, or will we try to work our way back to Him?God allows us the choice. May we be wise and choose the good path that leads to salvation through faith in the full, final, finished, and forever work of Jesus Christ the Lord? Indeed, may we be wise and choose Jesus.
By faith alone,
not by my works!
I’m saved by GRACE,
not on my own.
Not by my deeds,
but by His blood,
for Jesus died
to give me Life.
And life everlasting,
freedom from my sins
was purchase on the cross
the moment I believed.
Not by my hands,
not by my works!
But by the Blood
of Christ the Lord.
So be not afraid!
Only BELIEVE,
that Jesus died
as a payment for your sins.
By faith alone
your are truly SAVED.
So live by faith
for by the GRACE
SALVATION came.
12 Feb 2022
Closing Verse: We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. Galatians 2:15, 16
Next Week: 2 Samuel 1:1-16 (I Killed ‘Anointed, Yehovah’) (1st 2 Samuel Sermon)
The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and purpose for you. He is the One who abases the haughty and exalts the humble. He regards the lowly, and the proud, He knows from afar. So yield yourself to Him, trust Him, and believe His word. In this, He will do great things for you and through you.
1 Samuel 31:1-13 (CG)
31 And Philistines ‘being battled in Israel. And they fled, ‘mortals, Israel’, from ‘faces, Philistines’. And they fell, pierced, in ‘Mount, the Gilboa’. 2And they caused to impinge, Philistines את Saul and את his sons. And they caused to strike, Philistines את Jehonathan, and את Abinadab, and את Malki-shua, ‘sons, Saul’. 3And it enweighed, the battle, unto Saul. And they found him, the ‘causing to flow mortals’ in the bow. And he whirled, vehemently, from the ‘flowers’.
4And he said, Saul, to ‘lifter, his vessels’, “You must outpull your sword, and you must stab me in her, lest they will come, the foreskinned, the these, and they will stab me, and they will glean themselves in me.”
And not he acquiesced, ‘lifter, his vessels’, for he feared vehemently. And he took, Saul את the sword, and he fell upon her. 5And he saw, ‘lifter, his vessels’, that he died, Saul. And he fell, also he, upon his sword, and he died with him. 6And he died, Saul, and ‘three, his sons’, and ‘lifter, his vessels’. Also, all his mortals in the day, the it, unitedly.
7And they saw, ‘mortals, Israel’, who in ‘side, the valley’, and who in ‘side, the Jordan’ that they fled, ‘mortals, Israel’, and that they died, Saul and his sons. And they relinquished את the cities, and they fled. And they came, Philistines, and they sat in them. 8And it was, from morrow, and they came, Philistines, to strip את the pierced. And they found את Saul and את ‘three, his sons’ fallen in ‘Mount, the Gilboa’. 9And they cut את his head, and they caused to strip את his vessels. And they sent in ‘land, Philistines’ around to announce – ‘house, their carvings’, and את the people. 10And they put את his vessels – ‘house, Ashtaroth’. And את his body, they slapped in ‘rampart, Beth Shan’.
11And they heard, unto it, ‘sitting Jabesh Gilead’~ את they did, Philistines, to Saul. 12And they arose, all ‘man, valorous’, and they walked all the night, and they took את ‘body, Saul’, and את ‘bodies, his sons’, from ‘rampart, Beth Shan’. And they came Jabesh-ward, and they burned את them there. 13And they took את their bones, and they interred under the tamarisk in Jabesh-ward. And they fasted seven days.
1 Samuel 31:1-13 (NKJV)
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 3 The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.
4 Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me.”
But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it. 5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day.
7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. 8 So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people. 10 Then they put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.
11 Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
