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And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

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.

And when they had stripped him, they took his head and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.

And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, they arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;

And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

ANNOTATIONS AND REFLECTIONS.

*

It seems probable, that Saul was attacked in his camp soon after he returned from Endor; and that the Philistines might be encouraged to this attempt by some secret information of Saul's having stolen out the even

Delany's Life of King David.

ing

ing before; for had he attacked the Philistines, the battle would have been fought at Shunem, where they were encamped.

The practice of fighting with bows and arrows was not at that time in general use, and those amongst the Israelites, who were expert at it, had resorted to David : so that the Philistines, who had brought archers with them, had great advantage over the Israelites, because they were not prepared for this way of fighting, and being taken by surprize, their camp must have been in great confusion. Saul's sons were very valiant, and without doubt used their utmost efforts to repel the enemy, but they were soon overpowered; and perceiving that their father fled, might think it vain to make farther resistance; however, they died, as many heroes have done, by the hand of their foes, and brought no imputation on their courage; but Saul, in his last act, shewed that cowardice which generally accompanies a guilty conscience; for finding that his sons were dead, that the Philistines were in hot pursuit, and that he could no way escape, he resolved not to fall alive into their hands this circumstance shews, that he had not a religious mind; otherwise, let his distress have been ever so great, he would not have incurred the guilt of self-murder. Saul slew himself to avoid being abused by the Philistines, but could not preserve his corpse from the indignities they offered to it. The men of Jabesh-gilead gratefully remembered the services he had performed for them against Nahash *, which made them hazard their lives to recover the bodies of him and his sons: to which they paid all the honour they could, by burning spices over them, and fasting seven days till evening; this was a short mourning, and there

See Section 72

does

does not appear to have been a general lamentation; perhaps, the disturbance of the times would not admit of it.

If this attack of the Philistines was encouraged by the intelligence of Saul's having stolen out of the camp, then his applying to the witch of Endor was the immediate cause of his destruction, and he died for his transgression, which he committed against the LORD, even the word of the LORD, which he kept not; and also for asking one who had a fumiliar spirit to enquire.

When Saul first ascended the throne of Israel, every circumstance seemed disposed for his having a happy reign, but it proved far otherwise; his people were op. pressed by his arbitrary proceedings, and he, though admired for his valour, was hated for his pride and arrogance, cut off by the LORD for disobedience to the divine commands, and tormented by an evil conscience. Thus does the LORD deal with all sinners according to their respective crimes and situations. Let us therefore resolve to follow the dictates of the Holy Spirit, which alone can govern and restrain the unruly passions of men.

SECTION LXXXVII.

AN AMALEKITE BRINGETH THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF SAUL AND JONATHAN TO DAVID: DAVID'S LA MENTATION.

From 2 Samuel, Chap. i.

Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag: it came even to pass on the third day, that behold, a man * Delany's Life of King David.

came

came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead, and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? 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.

And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me: and I answered, Here am I.

And he said unto me, Who art thou? and I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them, and likewise all the men that were with him.

And they mourned and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel, because they were fallen by the sword.

And

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

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And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand, to destroy the LORD'S anointed? And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son.

The beauty of Israel is slain upon the high places • how are the mighty fallen! tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon: lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

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.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

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.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

I am

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