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1 Chronicles 10

BSB·14 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Now the Philistinesוּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖יםū·p̄ə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study → foughtנִלְחֲמ֣וּnil·ḥă·mū — to fight; to consume; to battleH3898 — Full Word Study → against Israelבְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לḇə·yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →, and the menאִֽישׁ־’îš- — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → fledוַיָּ֑נָסway·yā·nās — to flee, escape, or run awayH5127 — Full Word Study → beforeמִפְּנֵ֣יmip·pə·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → themפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםp̄ə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study →, and many fell slainחֲלָלִ֖יםḥă·lā·lîm — to pierce through; to kill or slayH2491 — Full Word Study → on Mountבְּהַ֥רbə·har — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → Gilboaגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃gil·bō·a‘ — Hill of springsH1533 — Full Word Study →. 2The Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםp̄ə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study → followed hard afterוַיַּדְבְּק֣וּway·yaḏ·bə·qū — to cling to, cleave fast, adhere closelyH1692 — Full Word Study → Saulשָׁא֖וּלšā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → and his sonsבָנָ֑יוḇā·nāw — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →, and they killedוַיַּכּ֣וּway·yak·kū — To strike, smite, or defeat with forceH5221 — Full Word Study → Saul’sשָׁאֽוּל׃šā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → sonsבְּנֵ֥יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → Jonathanיוֹנָתָ֧ןyō·w·nā·ṯān — Yahweh has givenH3129 — Full Word Study →, Abinadabאֲבִינָדָ֛ב’ă·ḇî·nā·ḏāḇ — Abinadab, a man whose name means 'Father is willing' or 'Father is noble'H41 — Full Word Study →, and Malchishuaשׁ֖וּעַšū·a‘ — Malchi-shua, son of King SaulH4444 — Full Word Study →. 3When the battleהַמִּלְחָמָה֙ham·mil·ḥā·māh — Battle, warfare, combat, military conflictH4421 — Full Word Study → intensifiedוַתִּכְבַּ֤דwat·tiḵ·baḏ — to honor, glorify, or make heavy/weightyH3513 — Full Word Study → againstעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Saulשָׁא֔וּלšā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study →, the archersהַמּוֹרִ֣יםham·mō·w·rîm — To shoot, throw, or teach; to direct or instructH3384 — Full Word Study → overtook himוַיִּמְצָאֻ֖הוּway·yim·ṣā·’u·hū — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → and wounded himוַיָּ֖חֶלway·yā·ḥel — To twist, whirl, dance, writhe; to be in pain or travailH2342 — Full Word Study →. 4Then Saulשָׁאוּל֩šā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → his armor-bearerנֹשֵׂ֨אnō·śê — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study →, “Drawשְׁלֹ֥ףšə·lōp̄ — to draw out, pull, or extractH8025 — Full Word Study → your swordחַרְבְּךָ֣׀ḥar·bə·ḵā — sword; blade weaponH2719 — Full Word Study → and run it through me, orפֶּן־pen- — lest, that not, for fear thatH6435 — Full Word Study → theseהָאֵ֙לֶּה֙hā·’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study → uncircumcised menהָעֲרֵלִ֤יםhā·‘ă·rê·lîm — Uncircumcised; ritually unclean or spiritually unpreparedH6189 — Full Word Study → will comeיָבֹ֜אוּyā·ḇō·’ū — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → and tortureוְהִתְעַלְּלוּ־wə·hiṯ·‘al·lə·lū- — to glean; to work thoroughly; to maltreat or abuseH5953 — Full Word Study → me!” But his armor-bearerנֹשֵׂ֣אnō·śê — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → was terrifiedיָרֵ֖אyā·rê — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study → and refusedוְלֹ֤אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → to do itאָבָה֙’ā·ḇāh — to be willing, consent, desireH14 — Full Word Study →. So Saulשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → tookוַיִּקַּ֤חway·yiq·qaḥ — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → his own swordהַחֶ֔רֶבha·ḥe·reḇ — sword; blade weaponH2719 — Full Word Study → and fellוַיִּפֹּ֖לway·yip·pōl — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → on itעָלֶֽיהָ׃‘ā·le·hā — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →. 5When his armor-bearerנֹשֵֽׂא־nō·śê- — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → sawוַיַּ֥רְאway·yar — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → thatכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Saulשָׁא֑וּלšā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → was deadמֵ֣תmêṯ — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →, heה֛וּאhū — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → tooגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → fellוַיִּפֹּ֥לway·yip·pōl — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → his own swordהַחֶ֖רֶבha·ḥe·reḇ — sword; blade weaponH2719 — Full Word Study → and diedוַיָּמֹֽת׃סway·yā·mōṯ — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →. 6So Saulשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → diedמֵֽתוּ׃mê·ṯū — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study → togetherיַחְדָּ֥וyaḥ·dāw — together, united, as oneH3162 — Full Word Study → with his threeוּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתū·šə·lō·šeṯ — The number three; a group of three thingsH7969 — Full Word Study → sonsבָּנָ֔יוbā·nāw — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → and allוְכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → his houseבֵּית֖וֹbê·ṯōw — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study →. 7When allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the Israelitesאִ֨ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → in the valleyבָּעֵ֙מֶק֙bā·‘ê·meq — ValleyH6010 — Full Word Study → sawוַ֠יִּרְאוּway·yir·’ū — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → thatכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → the army had fled and thatוְכִי־wə·ḵî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → Saulשָׁא֣וּלšā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → and his sonsוּבָנָ֑יוū·ḇā·nāw — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → had diedמֵ֖תוּmê·ṯū — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →, they abandonedוַיַּעַזְב֤וּway·ya·‘az·ḇū — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → their citiesעָרֵיהֶם֙‘ā·rê·hem — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → and ran awayוַיָּנֻ֔סוּway·yā·nu·sū — to flee, escape, or run awayH5127 — Full Word Study →. So the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםp̄ə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study → cameוַיָּבֹ֣אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ū — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → and occupiedוַיֵּשְׁב֖וּway·yê·šə·ḇū — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → their cities. 8The next dayמִֽמָּחֳרָ֔תmim·mā·ḥo·rāṯ — The next day, morrow, following dayH4283 — Full Word Study →, when the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֔יםp̄ə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study → cameוַיָּבֹ֣אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ū — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → to stripלְפַשֵּׁ֖טlə·p̄aš·šêṭ — to strip, plunder, or invadeH6584 — Full Word Study → the deadהַֽחֲלָלִ֑יםha·ḥă·lā·lîm — to pierce through; to kill or slayH2491 — Full Word Study →, they foundוַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּway·yim·ṣə·’ū — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → Saulשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → and his sonsבָּנָ֔יוbā·nāw — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → fallenנֹפְלִ֖יםnō·p̄ə·lîm — to fall; collapse; perishH5307 — Full Word Study → on Mountבְּהַ֥רbə·har — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → Gilboaגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃gil·bō·a‘ — Hill of springsH1533 — Full Word Study →. 9They stripped Saulוַיַּ֨פְשִׁיטֻ֔הוּway·yap̄·šî·ṭu·hū — to strip, plunder, or invadeH6584 — Full Word Study →, cut off his headרֹאשׁ֖וֹrō·šōw — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study →, tookוַיִּשְׂא֥וּway·yiś·’ū — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → his armorכֵּלָ֑יוkê·lāw — vessel, instrument, or article of useH3627 — Full Word Study →, and sentוַיְשַׁלְּח֨וּway·šal·lə·ḥū — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → messengers throughout the landבְאֶֽרֶץ־ḇə·’e·reṣ- — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֜יםp̄ə·liš·tīm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study → to proclaim the newsלְבַשֵּׂ֛רlə·ḇaś·śêr — to announce good news; to proclaim tidingsH1319 — Full Word Study → in the temple of their idols and among their peopleהָעָֽם׃hā·‘ām — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →. 10They putוַיָּשִׂ֙ימוּ֙way·yā·śî·mū — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → his armorכֵּלָ֔יוkê·lāw — vessel, instrument, or article of useH3627 — Full Word Study → in the templeבֵּ֖יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of their godsאֱלֹהֵיהֶ֑ם’ĕ·lō·hê·hem — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → and hungתָקְע֖וּṯā·qə·‘ū — to blow, sound, thrust, or strike with forceH8628 — Full Word Study → his headגֻּלְגָּלְתּ֥וֹgul·gā·lə·tōw — Head; skull; poll (person counted)H1538 — Full Word Study → in the templeבֵּ֥יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of Dagonדָּגֽוֹן׃סdā·ḡō·wn — Fish godH1712 — Full Word Study →. 11When the people of Jabesh-gileadיָבֵ֣ישׁyā·ḇêš — Jabesh (Gilead), a city east of the Jordan RiverH3003 — Full Word Study → heard aboutוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֔וּway·yiš·mə·‘ū — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → everythingכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֖יםp̄ə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study → had doneעָשׂ֥וּ‘ā·śū — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → to Saulלְשָׁאֽוּל׃lə·šā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study →, 12allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → their menאִ֣ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → of valorחַיִל֒ḥa·yil — Army, force, or wealthH2428 — Full Word Study → set outוַיָּקוּמוּ֮way·yā·qū·mū — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → and retrievedוַיִּשְׂא֞וּway·yiś·’ū — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → the bodiesגּוּפַ֣תgū·p̄aṯ — Body, corpse, physical formH1480 — Full Word Study → of Saulשָׁא֗וּלšā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → andוְאֵת֙wə·’êṯ — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → his sonsבָּנָ֔יוbā·nāw — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → and brought themוַיְבִיא֖וּםway·ḇî·’ūm — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → to Jabeshיָבֵ֑ישָׁהyā·ḇê·šāh — Jabesh (Gilead), a city east of the Jordan RiverH3003 — Full Word Study →. And they buriedוַיִּקְבְּר֨וּway·yiq·bə·rū — to bury, to entomb the deadH6912 — Full Word Study → their bonesעַצְמוֹתֵיהֶ֜ם‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯê·hem — bone; body; substance; strengthH6106 — Full Word Study → underתַּ֤חַתta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → the oakהָאֵלָה֙hā·’ê·lāh — oak tree, a large sturdy treeH424 — Full Word Study → in Jabeshבְּיָבֵ֔שׁbə·yā·ḇêš — Jabesh (Gilead), a city east of the Jordan RiverH3003 — Full Word Study → and fastedוַיָּצ֖וּמוּway·yā·ṣū·mū — to abstain from food; to fastH6684 — Full Word Study → sevenשִׁבְעַ֥תšiḇ·‘aṯ — The number seven; sevenfoldH7651 — Full Word Study → daysיָמִֽים׃yā·mîm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →. 13So Saulשָׁא֗וּלšā·’ūl — Asked of GodH7586 — Full Word Study → diedוַיָּ֣מָתway·yā·māṯ — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study → for his unfaithfulnessבְּמַֽעֲלוֹ֙bə·ma·‘ă·lōw — Breach of trust, treachery, unfaithfulnessH4604 — Full Word Study → to the LORDבַּֽיהוָ֔הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, becauseאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → he did notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → keepשָׁמָ֑רšā·mār — To guard, keep, observe, preserveH8104 — Full Word Study → the wordדְּבַ֥רdə·ḇar — word, matter, thing, affairH1697 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → and evenוְגַם־wə·ḡam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → consultedלִשְׁא֥וֹלliš·’ō·wl — to ask, request, inquire, or demandH7592 — Full Word Study → a mediumבָּא֖וֹבbā·’ō·wḇ — Medium or spiritist; one who consults the deadH178 — Full Word Study → for guidanceלִדְרֽוֹשׁ׃liḏ·rō·wōš — to seek, inquire, search diligentlyH1875 — Full Word Study →, 14and he failedוְלֹֽא־wə·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → to inquireדָרַ֥שׁḏā·raš — to seek, inquire, search diligentlyH1875 — Full Word Study → of the LORDבַּֽיהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. So the LORD put him to deathוַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּway·mî·ṯê·hū — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study → and turned the kingdomהַמְּלוּכָ֔הham·mə·lū·ḵāh — Kingship, royal authority, sovereigntyH4410 — Full Word Study → overוַיַּסֵּב֙way·yas·sêḇ — to turn, surround, go aroundH5437 — Full Word Study → to Davidלְדָוִ֖ידlə·ḏā·wîḏ — BelovedH1732 — Full Word Study → sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Jesseיִשָֽׁי׃פyi·šāy — Jesse, father of DavidH3448 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — 1 Chronicles 10
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

1 Chronicles 10 records the tragic death of King Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, marking the end of Israel's first dynasty. This chapter serves as both a historical account and a spiritual lesson, showing how disobedience to God's Word leads to destruction and judgment. The Philistine victory and Saul's desperate suicide demonstrate the consequences of rejecting divine guidance, while the rescue and burial of his body by the men of Jabesh-gilead provides a final act of honor before David's righteous kingdom begins. This chapter bridges the old order under Saul with the new order under David, preparing readers for the restoration and blessing that God's chosen king will bring.

Verses 1–5: The Battle and Saul's Death

The chapter opens with Israel facing a catastrophic military defeat. The Philistines, Israel's perennial enemies, engage Israel's army at Mount Gilboa, and the battle quickly turns disastrous (verses 1–3). Many Israeli soldiers fall, and Saul himself is mortally wounded by Philistine archers. Rather than face capture and humiliation at the hands of uncircumcised enemies—a phrase emphasizing the pagan Philistines' separation from God's covenant—Saul asks his armor-bearer to kill him (verse 4). When the armor-bearer refuses out of fear, Saul takes his own sword and falls upon it, ending his life (verse 4). His armor-bearer, witnessing his king's death, does the same (verse 5).

This tragic passage reveals the spiritual bankruptcy of Saul's reign. A king chosen by God ends not in victory or honorable death but in suicide—the ultimate act of despair and rejection of divine providence. Saul's concern about being "abused" by the uncircumcised shows he feared man more than he feared God. Application: When we abandon trust in God and rely instead on our own strength or self-preservation, we invite spiritual and moral collapse. True courage comes from faith in God, not from fear of human enemies.

Verses 6–12: The Aftermath and Honor

Verse 6 tersely summarizes the extent of Saul's loss: his three sons and his entire household perish with him. The surviving Israelites, witnessing the death of their king and his sons, abandon their cities in fear (verse 7), allowing the Philistines to occupy the land. The next day, the Philistines desecrate Saul's body and his sons' bodies, stripping them and severing Saul's head (verses 8–9). They send word of their victory throughout Philistine territory and display Saul's armor in their temple to the false god Dagon (verse 10).

Yet in this dark hour, a ray of faithfulness appears. The men of Jabesh-gilead—a city Saul had once heroically defended (see 1 Samuel 11)—remember his valor and act with courage and honor (verses 11–12). They retrieve the bodies of Saul and his sons, give them proper burial under an oak tree in Jabesh, and fast for seven days in mourning. This act of loyalty shows that despite Saul's failures as king, his earlier deeds were remembered and honored. Application: Even when we fall short spiritually, acts of genuine service are never forgotten. And we are called to show respect and kindness to others, regardless of their failures, as an expression of our faith.

Verses 13–14: The Theological Verdict

The Chronicler provides the spiritual diagnosis: Saul died because of his transgressions against the Lord (verse 13). Specifically, he violated God's Word and sought guidance from a medium with a familiar spirit rather than inquiring of the Lord (verses 13–14). Because Saul refused to trust God and instead turned to occult practices, the Lord removed him from the throne and gave the kingdom to David, a man after God's own heart. Application: God takes our obedience seriously. Disobedience—especially substituting worldly counsel for God's Word—carries real consequences. Conversely, humility and faith in God position us for blessing and advancement in His kingdom.

Application for Today

Saul's downfall reminds us that position, power, or past success cannot substitute for present obedience to God. We must daily choose to trust God's Word over our fears, worldly wisdom, or cultural pressure. When we do, we position ourselves for God's blessing; when we don't, we invite spiritual decline. Let us follow David's example of seeking God's face and submitting to His will.

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