The Tragic End of a King and His Son
The narrative of King Saul, Israel's first monarch, is a poignant testament to the consequences of disobedience and the immutable sovereignty of God. Chosen by the Lord, Saul began his reign with promise, yet his tenure was marred by repeated acts of rebellion against divine commands. From presumptuous sacrifice (1 Samuel 13:8-14) to sparing Agag and the best of the spoil contrary to God's explicit instruction (1 Samuel 15:9), Saul consistently demonstrated a heart that preferred his own counsel over the word of the Lord. Consequently, the prophet Samuel declared God's rejection of Saul as king:
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
This divine rejection set the stage for Saul's ultimate downfall, marked by an evil spirit troubling him (1 Samuel 16:14), relentless pursuit of David, and a desperate seeking of counsel from a witch at Endor when God had ceased to answer him (1 Samuel 28:6). His tragic end, alongside his noble son Jonathan, serves as a powerful biblical lesson on the futility of human will when set against the divine.
The Battle on Mount Gilboa
The final act of Saul's reign unfolded on the slopes of Mount Gilboa, where the Philistines, perennial adversaries of Israel, gathered their forces for a decisive confrontation. Israel was arrayed against them, but fear gripped Saul's heart, for he had no divine guidance. Having alienated the Lord, he found himself utterly alone, abandoned by the very God who had exalted him to kingship.
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
The battle commenced with a fierce intensity. The Philistines pressed hard against Israel, causing the Israelite forces to flee in disarray. Many fell slain on the battlefield, including Saul's own sons. The tide of battle turned decisively against Israel, reflecting not merely a military defeat but the judgment of God upon a disobedient king.
Saul's Desperate Demise
As the conflict raged, the Philistine archers targeted Saul, gravely wounding him. Faced with the ignominy of capture and potential torture by the uncircumcised Philistines, Saul made a desperate plea to his armourbearer.
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.
The armourbearer, fearing the Lord and perhaps the consequences of laying hands on God's anointed, refused to comply. In a final act of self-determination and despair, Saul took his own sword and fell upon it, ending his life. His armourbearer, witnessing this, likewise fell upon his own sword and died with him.
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, all his men, that same day together.
It is important to note the account given by an Amalekite to David in 2 Samuel 1:6-10, where he claims to have delivered the fatal blow to Saul. This account directly contradicts the detailed description in 1 Samuel 31:4-5. The Amalekite likely fabricated his story, seeking favour from David by presenting himself as the one who ended David's tormentor. David, however, saw through the deception or, more importantly, judged the act of laying hands on the Lord's anointed as an offense worthy of death, regardless of the truth of the Amalekite's claim. The consistent narrative of 1 Samuel confirms Saul's suicide.
Jonathan's Valiant Fall
Among those who perished on Mount Gilboa was Jonathan, Saul's eldest and most noble son. Jonathan was a man of great courage, unwavering loyalty, and profound faith. Despite his father's animosity towards David, Jonathan forged an unbreakable covenant of friendship with David, recognizing God's hand upon him and willingly deferring to David's future kingship. His love for David transcended all earthly ambition and familial strife, standing as a beacon of true loyalty in a kingdom riddled with jealousy and fear.
And Jonathan, Saul's son, was slain on thy high places.
Jonathan's death alongside his father and brothers (Abinadab and Malchishua) underscores the tragic completeness of Israel's defeat. He died a warrior's death, fighting bravely for his people, a testament to his character even in the face of his father's spiritual decline. His loyalty, extended to his father even unto death, stands in stark contrast to Saul's own faithlessness. The loss of Jonathan was a profound blow to Israel and, as we shall see, to David personally.
The Aftermath and Desecration
The morning after the battle, the Philistines came to strip the slain. Upon finding the bodies of Saul and his sons, they rejoiced in their victory. They decapitated Saul, stripped him of his armour, and sent news throughout their land, displaying his armour in the temple of Ashtaroth and fastening his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
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. 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. And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
This act of desecration was a profound humiliation for Israel. However, news of this atrocity reached the valiant men of Jabesh-gilead, who remembered Saul's earlier deliverance of their city from Nahash the Ammonite (1 Samuel 11:1-11). In a remarkable act of courage and loyalty, they marched all night, retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and brought them back to Jabesh. There, they burned the bodies and buried their bones under a tree, mourning and fasting for seven days (1 Samuel 31:11-13). This noble act provided a measure of dignity in the face of such a devastating defeat.
David's Lament and Legacy
The news of Saul and Jonathan's death reached David in Ziklag, where he had returned after the Amalekite raid (2 Samuel 1:1). Far from rejoicing at the demise of his persecutor, David was overcome with profound grief. He tore his clothes, mourned, wept, and fasted, a genuine expression of sorrow for the fallen king and his beloved friend. David then composed a lament, known as "The Song of the Bow," a beautiful and moving elegy recorded in 2 Samuel 1.
The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
David's lament highlights the tragedy of Saul's fall and the immense loss of Jonathan. He praised their unity in life and death, and particularly extolled Jonathan's character and their bond:
Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. ... I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
This lament not only honored the fallen but also demonstrated David's righteous heart, free from bitterness and full of compassion. It solidified his image as a man after God's own heart, even in the face of grave personal injustice.
Profound Biblical Lessons
The death of Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa offers several profound biblical lessons:
The account of Saul and Jonathan's deaths is not merely a historical record but a foundational narrative in the Old Testament, illustrating the principles of divine judgment, faithfulness, and the intricate path of God's redemptive plan for His people. It reminds us that while man looks on the outward appearance, the Lord looks on the heart, and obedience is better than sacrifice.