1 Chronicles 10:1

¶ Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

Now the Philistines {H6430} fought {H3898} against Israel {H3478}; and the men {H376} of Israel {H3478} fled {H5127} from before {H6440} the Philistines {H6430}, and fell down {H5307} slain {H2491} in mount {H2022} Gilboa {H1533}.

Now the P'lishtim pressed their attack on Isra'el; and the men of Isra'el fled before the P'lishtim, leaving their dead on Mount Gilboa.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

Commentary

1 Chronicles 10:1 opens a pivotal chapter in Israel's history, detailing the tragic end of King Saul's reign and setting the stage for the rise of David. This verse immediately thrusts the reader into the midst of a critical battle between Israel and their persistent enemies, the Philistines.

Context

This verse describes the climactic battle on Mount Gilboa, a significant geographical location in ancient Israel. The account serves as a summary of events more fully detailed in the Book of 1 Samuel, specifically 1 Samuel chapter 31. For the Chronicler, this opening verse is crucial as it explains the vacuum of leadership that allowed for David's ascension to the throne. The defeat was devastating, leading to the death of King Saul and his sons, marking a dark day for Israel and the end of an era.

Key Themes

  • The End of an Era: This battle definitively marks the conclusion of King Saul's monarchy, highlighting the fragility of human leadership and the consequences of disobedience to God's commands, which are elaborated upon later in this chapter (see 1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
  • Divine Sovereignty Amidst Defeat: While a military disaster for Israel, the narrative in Chronicles frames this event as part of God's overarching plan to establish David as king. Even through national tragedy, God's purposes are being fulfilled, paving the way for the Davidic covenant and kingship.
  • Consequences of Unfaithfulness: Though not explicit in this single verse, the larger context of 1 Chronicles 10 and 1 Samuel reveals that Israel's defeat, and Saul's death, were ultimately a result of Saul's unfaithfulness to the Lord, particularly his failure to obey God's commands and his turning to a medium (1 Samuel 28:7-8).

Practical Application

1 Chronicles 10:1 reminds us that even in moments of profound defeat and loss, God's sovereign plan continues to unfold. It underscores the importance of obedience and faithfulness to God, as disobedience can lead to severe consequences, not just for individuals but for entire communities. The narrative encourages believers to trust that God can work through difficult circumstances and transitions, bringing about His ultimate purposes even when human plans fail or leaders fall.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 10:8 (4 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

  • 1 Samuel 31:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

  • 1 Samuel 31:13 (4 votes)

    And they took their bones, and buried [them] under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

  • 2 Samuel 21:12 (3 votes)

    And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

  • 2 Samuel 1:21 (3 votes)

    Ye mountains of Gilboa, [let there be] no dew, neither [let there be] rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, [as though he had] not [been] anointed with oil.

  • 1 Samuel 28:4 (3 votes)

    And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

  • 2 Samuel 1:6 (3 votes)

    And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.