The Death of Saul and His Three Sons

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Chapter 31 of First Samuel records the death of Saul and his three sons. While David was taking care of the Amalekites, the Philistines were fighting Saul and his army on Mt. Gilboa (south Isschar) about 100 miles from David.

Saul's three sons, Jonathan, Abinidab and Malchishua were killed. Saul was wounded by Philistine Archers and had asked his armor bearer to kill him but he would not. So Saul killed himself by falling on his own sword. Then his armor bearer killed himself the same way.

When the people of Israel beyond the Jordan heard of this, they became afraid and they ran to the hills and abandoned their cities to the Philistines. When the Philistines found the bodies of Saul and his sons, they cut off Saul's head and sent the news throughout the land. They placed his armor in the Temple of Ashtaroth, their pagan god and they nailed his body to the wall at Beth-shear near Mt. Gilboa.

When the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done, they went to Beth-shean and took down the bodies and brought them back to Jabesh-gilead. There they cremated them and buried them under the oak tree there. Then they fasted for 7 days.

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