8 And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the Philistines come to strip the wounded, and find Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa, 9 and strip him, and bear away his head, and his weapons, and send into the land of the Philistines round about to proclaim tidings 'to' their idols and the people, 10 and put his weapons in the house of their gods, and his skull they have fixed in the house of Dagon. 11 And all Jabesh-Gilead hear of all that the Philistines have done to Saul, 12 and all the men of valour rise and bear away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and bring them in to Jabesh, and bury their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fast seven days. 13 And Saul dieth because of his trespass that he trespassed against Jehovah, against the word of Jehovah that he kept not, and also for asking at a familiar spirit—to inquire,— 14 and he inquired not at Jehovah, and He putteth him to death, and turneth round the kingdom to David son of Jesse.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 10:8-14
Chapter Contents
The death of Saul.
The design chiefly in view in these books of the Chronicles, appears to be to preserve the records of the house of David. Therefore the writer repeats not the history of Saul's reign, but only of his death, by which a way was made for David to the throne. And from 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. May be delivered from unbelief, impatience, and despair. By waiting on the Lord we shall obtain a kingdom that cannot be moved.