Bible Commentaries

1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 10

Saul’s overthrow and death, 1 Chronicles 10:1-7. The Philistines triumph over Saul, 1 Chronicles 10:8-10. The kindness of Jabesh-gilead towards Saul and his sons: his sin, 1 Chronicles 10:11-14.

Of this and the following verses till 1 Chronicles 10:13, see my notes on 1Sa 31, where we have the same thing expressed almost in thee same words.

All his house, i.e. all his children, to wit, then present with him, namely,

his three sons, as it is expressed, 1 Samuel 31:6. For it is evident that Ish-bosheth and Mephibosheth were not slain. But nothing is more common in Scripture and all authors, than to understand all of a great and most considerable part.

In the valley; which was beneath Mount Gilboa, where the fight was, 1 Chronicles 10:1.

And his body severed from his head to the wall of Beth-shan, 1 Samuel 31:10.

To wit, every day till evening, after the manner of the Jewish fasts.

Saul died for his transgression: the sense is, Wonder not that Saul fell by the hands of the Philistines, who were armed against him by his own sin and by God’s vengeance for it.

Against the word of the Lord; against God’s express, and plain, and positive command; which is a great aggravation of any sin.

For asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit; which also was contrary to a manifest command, Leviticus 19:31, and moreover, contrary to his own conscience, which was so fully convinced hereof, that he had endeavoured the utter extirpation of all such persons, in pursuance of God’s law. See 1 Samuel 28:9.

To inquire of it, concerning the event of the approaching battle.

Inquired not of the Lord.

Object. Saul inquired of the Lord, 1 Samuel 28:6.

Answ. He did so, but not in a right manner, not humbly and penitently, not diligently and importunately, not patiently and perseveringly; but when God would not answer him speedily, he gives it over, and goes from God to the devil. Compare 1 Samuel 14:18,19. Such an inconsiderable and trifling inquiry as Saul made, is justly accounted to be no inquiry at all; as they are said not to eat the Lord’s supper, 1 Corinthians 11:20, who did eat it in a sinful and irregular manner.