I
C H R O N I C L E S
CHAP. X.
The
design of Ezra, in these books of the Chronicles, was to preserve the records
of the house of David, which, though much sunk and lessened in a common eye by
the captivity, yet grew more and more illustrious in the eyes of those that
lived by faith by the nearer approach of the Son of David. And therefore he
repeats, not the history of Saul's reign, but only of his death, by which way
was made for David to the throne. In this chapter we have, I. The fatal rout
which the Philistines gave to Saul's army, and the fatal stroke which he gave
himself, ver. 1-7. II. The Philistines' triumph therein, ver. 8-10. III. The
respect which the men of Jabesh-Gilead showed the royal corpse, ver. 11, 12.
IV. The reason of Saul's rejection, ver. 13, 14.
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The
Death of Saul.
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B.
C. 1400.
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1 Now the Philistines fought against
Israel; and the men of
Israel
fled from before the Philistines, and fell
down slain in
mount
Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines followed
hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and
Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. 3 And the battle went
sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the
archers. 4 Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and
thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But
his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and
fell upon it. 5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead,
he fell likewise on the sword, and died. 6 So Saul died, and his
three sons, and all his house died together. 7 And when all the
men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul
and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the
Philistines came and dwelt in them.
This account of Saul's death is the same with that which we had, 1 Sam. xxxi.
1, &c. We need not repeat the exposition of it. Only let us observe, 1.
Princes sin and the people suffer for it. It was a bad time with Israel when
they fled before the Philistines and fell down slain (v.
1), when they quitted their cities, and the Philistines came and dwelt in
them, v. 7. We do not find that they were at this time guilty of
idolatry, as they had been before, in the days of the judges, and were
afterwards, in the days of the kings. Samuel had reformed them, and they were
reformed: and yet they are thus given to the spoil and to the robbers.
No doubt there was enough in them to deserve this judgment; but that which
divine Justice had chiefly an eye to was the sin of Saul. Note, Princes and
great men should in a special manner take heed of provoking God's wrath; for,
if they kindle that fire, they know not how many may be consumed by it for
their sakes. 2. Parents sin and the children suffer for it. When the measure
of Saul's iniquity was full, and his day came to fall (which David foresaw, 1
Sam. xxvi. 10), he not only descended into battle and perished himself, but
his sons (all but Ishbosheth) perished with him, and Jonathan among the rest,
that gracious, generous man; for all things come alike to all. Thus was
the iniquity of the fathers visited upon the children, and they fell as parts
of the condemned father. Note, Those that love their seed must leave their
sins, lest they perish not alone in their iniquity, but bring ruin on their
families with themselves, or entail a curse upon them when they are gone. 3.
Sinners sin and at length suffer for it themselves, though they be long
reprieved; for, although sentence be not executed speedily, it will be
executed. It was so upon Saul; and the manner of his fall was such as, in
various particulars, answered to his sin. (1.) He had thrown a javelin more
than once at David, and missed him; but the archers hit him, and he was
wounded of the archers. (2.) He had commanded Doeg to slay the priests of the
Lord; and now, in despair, he commands his armour-bearer to draw his sword
and thrust him through. (3.) He had disobeyed the command of God in not
destroying the Amalekites, and his armour-bearer disobeys him in not
destroying him. (4.) He that was the murderer of the priests is justly left to
himself to be his own murderer; and his family is cut off who cut off the city
of the priests. See, and say, The Lord is righteous.
8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the
Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen
in
mount
Gilboa
. 9 And when they had stripped him,
they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines
round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.
10 And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head
in the
temple
of
Dagon
. 11 And when all Jabesh-gilead
heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 They arose,
all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his
sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in
Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 13 So Saul died for his
transgression which he committed against the LORD,
even against the word of the LORD,
which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a
familiar spirit, to enquire of it; 14 And enquired not of
the LORD:
therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.
Here, I. From the triumph of the Philistines over the body of Saul we may
learn, 1. That the greater dignity men are advanced to the greater disgrace
they are in danger of falling into. Saul's dead body, because he was king, was
abused more than any other of the slain. Advancement makes men a mark for
malice. 2. That, if we give not to God the glory of our successes, even the
Philistines will rise up in judgment against us and condemn us; for, when they
had obtained a victory over Saul, they sent tidings to their idols--poor
idols, that knew not what was done a few miles off till the tidings were
brought to them, nor then either! They also put Saul's armour in the house
of their gods, v. 10. Shall Dagon have so honourable a share in
their triumphs and the true and living God be forgotten in ours?
II. From the triumph of the men of Jabesh-Gilead in the rescue of the bodies
of Saul and his sons we learn that there is a respect due to the remains of
the deceased, especially of deceased princes. We are not to enquire concerning
the eternal state; that must be left to God: but we must treat the dead body
as those who remember it has been united to an immortal soul and must be so
again.
III. From the triumphs of divine Justice in the ruin of Saul we may learn, 1.
That the sin of sinners will certainly find them out, sooner or later: Saul
died for his transgression. 2. That no man's greatness can exempt him from
the judgments of God. 3. Disobedience is a killing thing. Saul died for not
keeping the word of the Lord, by which he was ordered to destroy the
Amalekites. 4. Consulting with witches is a sin that fills the measure of
iniquity as soon as any thing. Saul enquired of one that had a familiar
spirit, and enquired not of the Lord, therefore he slew him, v.
13, 14. Saul slew himself, and yet it is said, God slew him. What is
done by wicked hands is yet done by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God. Those that abandon themselves to the devil shall be
abandoned to him; so shall their doom be. It is said (1 Sam. xxviii. 6) that
Saul did enquire of the Lord and he answered him not: but here
it is said, Saul did not enquire of God; for he did not till he was
brought to the last extremity, and then it was too late.
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