GiveDownload the App
Book & Chapter
Version

Summary

1 Samuel 31:1–7 – Saul and his sons fall at Gilboa

What happens: The Philistines press Israel. Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua die. Saul is wounded and falls on his sword. Israel flees, and the Philistines take the towns.

What it means: Sin’s wages are bitter. Rejecting God’s word ends in ruin. Even faithful friends like Jonathan die in the nation’s judgment, reminding us of the cost of leadership failure.

1 Samuel 31:8–10 – Desecration by the Philistines

What happens: The next day the Philistines find Saul and his sons, cut off Saul’s head, strip his armor, and hang their bodies on the wall of Beth-shan, placing trophies in their temples.

What it means: The enemies of God gloat, yet their triumph is temporary. Idolatry mocks, but God will answer in time. Shame follows disobedience.

1 Samuel 31:11–13 – Jabesh-gilead’s courage

What happens: The men of Jabesh-gilead retrieve the bodies by night, burn them, and bury the bones under a tamarisk at Jabesh, fasting seven days.

What it means: Loyal gratitude remembers past deliverance. Honor for the fallen can coexist with sober judgment. God preserves dignity through brave acts.

Application

  • Heed God’s word so your life does not drift toward ruin.
  • Grieve losses with honor and repentance, not despair.
  • Remember that God will complete His purposes even when leaders fail.

Bible

1Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

2And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.

3And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

4Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

5And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

6So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

7And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

9And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.

10And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

11And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

12All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

13And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

← 1 Samuel 302 Samuel 1 →

Take Versely with you

Queue devotion plans, track progress, and unlock audio guides inside the Versely app.

Download the AppSupport Versely