1 Chronicles 10 Explained - 5 Minute Bible Study

1 Chronicles 10 Short Summary:

1 Chronicles 10 is a parallel chapter to 1 Samuel 31. Both chapters record the story of King Saul’s death. Saul and his sons were killed during a battle with the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines took Saul’s armor and head back to their pagan temples in celebration of their victory. Saul’s death made way for David to become the next king of Israel.

What is 1 Chronicles 10 About?

WHEN:

• The Book of 1 Chronicles was written several hundred years after King David’s reign.  

• David became king of Judah in approximately 1055 B.C, the year Saul died.  

• 1 Chronicles is primarily a record of David’s reign. 1 Chronicles 10 records the death of King Saul (David’s predecessor). The last chapter of the book records the death of David.

CHARACTERS:

• Saul – The first king of Israel. He was chosen by God and anointed by Samuel the prophet.

• Jonathan – Son of Saul and best friend of David.

• Philistines – The long-time enemies of Israel. They lived near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the land assigned to the Tribe of Judah.

• The Men of Jabesh-gilead – They honored Saul in his death by burying him in Jabesh.

WHERE:

• Saul and his sons were killed on Mount Gilboa.

• The men of Jabesh-gilead took Saul’s body from Beth-shan and buried it at Jabesh.

OUTLINE:

• THE DEATH OF KING SAUL (10:1-14):

  • Saul led his army against the Philistines, but the battle didn’t go the way he hoped. His men were routed, and his sons were killed by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa.

  • Saul was mortally wounded by an enemy archer, and he asked his armor-bearer to kill him, to prevent him from being captured by the Philistines. But his armor-bearer refused, so Saul fell on his own sword and died.

  • “Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together” (10:6).

  • When the Israelites who lived in the nearby cities saw the defeat of their army, they fled. The Philistines took possession of the cities and lived in them.

  • The next day, the Philistines returned to the battlefield and found Saul’s body.

  • They put his armor in their pagan temples and his head in the temple of Dagon (an idol they worshipped).

  • They hung the bodies of Saul and his sons in Beth-shan (2 Sam 31:10).

  • When the men of Jabesh-gildead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, their valent men went to Beth-shan, took the bodies, and brought them back to Jabesh.

  • They burned the bodies (2 Sam 31:12), buried the bones, and fasted 7 days.

  • God’s reasons for allowing Saul to be killed are clearly stated in the last two verses of the chapter.

  • “So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” (10:13-14).

APPLICATION:

• Its interesting that the Philistines killed Saul through a military operation, but the author says, “the LORD put him to death.”

• Wicked rulers are alive only as long as God permits them to live.

• He can and will eliminate them when He chooses.

• The same is true for the most wicked ruler, Satan. He is permitted by God to exist, but his time is limited, and he will be put down when Jesus returns to destroy the works of darkness.