1 Chronicles 10:1-14
Q.1. Why did King Saul kill himself? How did Israel respond? How did the Philistines insult Saul and his sons? – (1 Chr.10:1-10)
Saul asked his armour-bearer to kill him because he feared that the Philistines would torture him. His servant probably feared killing the king because he was the Lord’s anointed king (c.f. 1 Sam.24:6 & 10; 26:9-11; 2 Sam.1:14). After King Saul killed himself by falling on his sword, Israel was left demoralized and – … forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them (1 Sam.10:7). Worse was to come when the Philistines paraded the head and armour of Saul – 9 … around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armour in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon (1 Sam.10:9-10).
Q.2. Why did King Saul die? How did the men of Jabesh-gilead honour their king and his sons? – (1 Chr.10:11-14)
Saul’s death was punishment from God – 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 over to David the son of Jesse (1 Chr.10:13-14). King Saul had been an able general – 47 Now when Saul had taken over the kingdom of Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, the sons of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment. 48 He acted valiantly and defeated the Amalekites and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them (1 Sam.14:47-48). His son, Jonathan, was also known for his outstanding courage. Valiant men from Jabesh-gilead (very likely, former soldiers in the army) stole the bodies of Saul and his sons and gave them a decent burial (1 Chr.10:12). We should always give respect to the dead and leave the final judgment to God.