1 Samuel 31:1 – 13 The Death of Saul

Today’s study highlights the catastrophic defeat of Saul and the people of Israel by the Philistines, resulting in Saul committing suicide, and the death of his three sons on Mount Gilboa.

The Defeat of the People of Israel

1Sa 31:1  Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 

The people of Israel, in this case, represents the church system of this world or Babylon, while the Philistines signifies our flesh. The fact that the Philistines were fighting against the Israelites, resulting in the fleeing of the Israelites before the Philistines indicates that during our time in the church system of this world, we were overcome by our flesh.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
2Pe 2:20  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
2Pe 2:22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. 

As shown here in verse 1, the Israelites fell slain on Mount Gilboa. According to Brown-Driver-Briggs Dictionary, Gilboa means swollen heap. In the Bible, mountains signifies the place for the assembly of the Lord’s people or idol worshippers. The Israelites falling slain on Mount Gilboa implies that during our time in the church system of this world, we were like a swollen heap of believers, overcome by our flesh and therefore, we were spiritually dead.

Rom 8:5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

1Sa 31:2  And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 

Saul and his sons represent the leadership of the church system of this world. We can see from verse 2 that the Philistines slew all the three sons of Saul and Saul himself died later through a mortal wound inflicted by the Philistines. This is to show us that the leaders of the church system of this world or Babylon are all spiritually dead and if they are dead, then those who follow them in the churches of this world are equally dead.

Isa 9:16  For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
Isa 9:17  Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for everyone is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. 

Isa 3:12  As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. 

It is instructive to note that the names of Saul and his sons reveal the characteristics of the leaders of the church system of this world. Saul means desired. Jonathan denotes Jehovah has given. Abinadab suggests my father is willing and Malchishua means my king is wealth. What these names suggest is that the leadership of Babylon think that it is the Lord’s desire and willing to make them physically wealthy as royal priesthood. As a result, the Lord has given them over to the desires of their heart of flesh as they chase after mammon, and in the process, are destroyed by their fleshly desires.

1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
1Ti 6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

1Sa 31:3  And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. 

When our desires are fixated on the riches of this world, we become victims of our flesh by the false doctrine that becoming physically rich is a sign of the Lord’s approval, even as we see Saul wounded mortally.

2Pe 2:14  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 2Pe 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16  But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 

1Sa 31:4  Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 

Saul coming to realize that he was surely going to die asked his armourbearer to kill him so that he does not die suffering and being put to shame by the hands of the Philistines. At a certain stage of our walk with Christ in Babylon, we came to realize that we cannot win this war against our flesh and that we are spiritually dying.

Rom 7:18  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
Rom 7:19  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Rom 7:20  Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Rom 7:21  So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.
Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being,
Rom 7:23  but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Rom 7:24  Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (ESV)

It is important to note that the armourbearer could not help Saul. As indicated in previous studies, an armourbearer is a person that the Lord brings in our way to assist us in our walk with Christ in this battle against the flesh. However, when we were in Babylon, those who were to help us could not do so because they themselves are also of the flesh. It is only in the body of Christ or the assembly of the Lord’s elect that we receive help from what every joint supplies.

Rom 7:25  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. 

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

Saul falling on his own sword signifies that we die spiritually by the false doctrines in our heavens or hearts and minds.

Eze 14:2  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
Eze 14:5  That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. 

1Sa 31:5  And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
1Sa 31:6  So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together. 

As indicated above, when we were in Babylon, those who helped us in our walk with Christ were also Babylonians, and therefore, they were also spiritually dead. The armourbearer falling upon his sword and died implies that it is through the false doctrines in our hearts and minds, represented here as sword, that put us to spiritual death.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

The fact that Saul, his three sons and his armourbearer and all men with him died is to show us our state, when we were in the churches of this world. We were all overwhelmed by our flesh and therefore we were spiritually dead during our time in Babylon.

1Sa 31:7  And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. 

The people of Israel represents the church system of this world or Babylon. The fact that they fled and forsook their cities, with the Philistines coming to dwell in those cities is a reminder of how the flesh has overtaken the church system of this world. This is plain to see as we hear of scandals rocking many of these churches. It is to show us the deplorable state of the church system in this world as the flesh signified by the Philistines has overtaken Babylon completely. This is what the Lord is saying about the state of the church system through the prophet Isaiah:

Isa 1:2  Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
Isa 1:3  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
Isa 1:4  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken anymore? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Isa 1:6  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
Isa 1:7  Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Isa 1:8  And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.
Isa 1:9  Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. 

It’s Getting Worse As the Days Go By

1Sa 31:8  And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
1Sa 31:9  And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. 

The cutting off of one’s head in the Bible on a negative note signifies the destruction or judgement of evil leadership, as shown in the following verses:

1Sa 17:51  Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

2Sa 20:22  Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

Verses 8 and 9 therefore show us that the evil leadership of the church system of this world shall come to an end in the fulness of time, when the Lord judges her. This is prophesized in the Bible as follows:

Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Rev 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.
Rev 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 

The fact that the Philistines took the body of Saul and brought it to the house of their idols indicates that being overwhelmed by our flesh leads to idol worship. This idol worship relates to the idols of the false doctrines in our hearts and minds which is the stumbling block of iniquity before the Lord, as shown in Ezekiel.

Eze 14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; 

1Sa 31:10  And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. 

Ashtaroth means house of ease. Putting the armor of Saul in the house of Ashtaroth therefore implies that when we are overcome completely by our flesh, we seek after a life of ease with no suffering, and therefore have no protection (armor) against the onslaught of our flesh. As the Lord’s elect, we are enjoined to put on the armor of the Lord so that we may be able to stand against the devices of the devil.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Bethshan means star. Fastening the body of Saul to the wall of Bethshan signifies how the devil enjoys displaying his conquest of the stars or leaders of Babylon. That is why every now and then, we hear of the depraved behavior of the leaders (stars) of the church system of this world. The Lord frequently referred to Israel’s leaders as “shepherds” who abandoned their duties, choosing to enrich themselves rather than care for the people of God.

Mic 3:1  And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?Mic 3:2  you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones,
Mic 3:3  who eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones in pieces and chop them up like meat in a pot, like flesh in a cauldron.
Mic 3:11  Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the LORD and say, “Is not the LORD in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.”  (ESV)

The Burning of the Bodies of Saul and His Sons by the Valiant Men

1Sa 31:11  But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
1Sa 31:12  all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 

The valiant men from Jabesh-gilead represents the Lord’s elect. When we, as the Lord’s elect hear of news of the victims of the devil, as we hear of the evil behavior of the leaders of the church system of this world, we should not be glad. We should behave like David, a symbol of the Lord’s elect. When he heard of what the Philistines had done to the bodies of Saul and his sons, he did not want such information to be broadcast among the heathen.

2Sa 1:20  Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 

Here in verse 12, the valiant men took action. These valiant men represents the Lord’s elect. In this age, there is nothing that we can do as we have received mercy through their unbelief.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 

The valiant men taking the bodies of Saul and his sons and burning them shows that in the fulness of time, during the lake of fire age, we, as the Lord’s elect or saviors, shall take action. We shall take away the reproach of our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world as their carnal minds are destroyed through the fire or judgement in the lake of fire.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S. 

1Sa 31:13  And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 

The fact that the valiant men took the bones of Saul and his sons and buried them under a tree at Jabesh and after that fasted for seven days indicates that this complete (significance of the number seven) period of the lake of fire age is a time that the elect, shall loose the bands of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, let the oppressed (our brothers and sisters in Babylon) go free and break every yoke. This is what spiritual fasting represents.

Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Isa 58:8  Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 

May the name of the Lord be magnified for His wonderful Plan of Salvation. Amen!!