BOOK 13 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Chronicles 10

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

1 Chronicles 10 Overview

The narrative begins with Israel’s defeat by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. Saul’s sons are killed, Saul is wounded and dies, and the Philistines display his body and weapons. Men of Jabesh-gilead recover and bury the bodies. Chronicles then interprets Saul’s fall: he was unfaithful to the LORD, did not keep God’s word, and sought guidance from a medium rather than from the LORD; the kingdom is transferred to David.

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Before you read 1 Chronicles 10

Coming from

Chapter 9 closed the genealogical introduction by repeating Saul’s family line.

In this chapter

The book now summarizes Saul’s final battle and explains his death in theological terms before moving quickly to David.

Leads into

Chapter 11 presents all Israel recognizing David as king and records the capture of Jerusalem and the exploits of David’s mighty men.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Chronicles condenses much of Saul’s reign because its narrative interest lies especially in David, the temple, and Judah. The statement that Saul inquired not of the LORD must be read with 1 Samuel 28: he had previously refused God’s word, and when no answer came he turned to forbidden occult practice rather than humbling himself under what God had already revealed.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Saul’s death is interpreted as covenant judgment for persistent unfaithfulness.

Truth 2

Seeking occult guidance is treated as rebellion, not as an acceptable alternative form of spirituality.

Truth 3

The transfer of the kingdom to David is presented as an act within God’s sovereign purpose.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

First Samuel 31 gives the fuller narrative of Saul’s death.

Connection 2

First Samuel 28 records Saul’s consultation with the medium at Endor.

Connection 3

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 forbids necromancy and related occult practices.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not read Saul’s temporal death and dynastic removal as proof that a saved person can lose eternal life.

Keep this clear 2

Do not use Saul’s consultation of the medium to legitimize spiritism; the act is explicitly condemned.

Keep this clear 3

Chronicles is selective here; it is not claiming nothing important happened during Saul’s earlier reign.

Read 1 Chronicles 10 watching for…

What details Chronicles preserves from Saul’s final battle.

The recovery of Saul’s body by Jabesh-gilead.

The specific reasons the narrator gives for Saul’s fall.

The transition from Saul’s house to David’s kingdom.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-7Saul and his sons die in battle against the Philistines 8-12The Philistines dishonor the bodies, and the men of Jabesh-gilead bury them 13-14Saul dies for his unfaithfulness, and the kingdom turns to David

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

And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

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

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.

And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.

So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.

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.

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.

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.

And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

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.

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 inquire of it;

And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

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1 Chronicles 10:2

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