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Saul Takes His Own Life
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By consulting that spirit of darkness, Saul had destroyed himself.
Depressed by feelings of despair, it would be impossible for him to
inspire his army with courage. He could not lead the minds of Israel
to look to God as their helper. Thus the prediction of evil would help
to bring about those very events.
The Sad End of the “Anointed of the Lord”
The armies of Israel and the Philistines came together in deadly
combat. Though the frightening scene in the cave of Endor had
driven all hope from his heart, Saul fought with heroic courage, but
it was in vain. “The men of Israel fled from before the Philistines,
and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.” Saul had seen his soldiers falling
around him and his three princely sons cut down by the sword. He
himself was wounded and could neither fight nor run. Escape was
impossible, so, determined to not be taken alive by the Philistines,
Saul took his own life by falling on his sword.
Thus the first king of Israel died, with the guilt of self-murder on
his soul. His life had been a failure, and he went down in dishonor
and despair.
The news of defeat spread far and wide, creating terror in all
of Israel. The people fled from the cities, and the Philistines took
possession without fighting. Saul’s reign, independent of God, had
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almost ruined his people.
On the next day, the Philistines discovered the bodies of Saul
and his three sons. They cut off Saul’s head and stripped him of his
armor. Then they sent the head and the armor, reeking with blood,
to the country of the Philistines as a trophy of victory, “to proclaim
it in the temple of their idols and among the people.” Thus the glory
of victory was credited to the power of false gods, and the name of
Jehovah was dishonored.
In Beth Shan the bodies of Saul and his sons were hung up in
chains, to be eaten by birds of prey. But the brave men of Jabesh
Gilead, remembering Saul’s deliverance in earlier and happier years,
now showed their gratitude by rescuing the bodies of the king and
princes and giving them an honorable burial. Thus the noble deed
performed forty years before gained for Saul and his sons a burial
by tender and pitying hands in that dark hour of defeat and dishonor.
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