7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army[1] had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 10:7

Chapter Contents

The death of Saul.

The design chiefly in view in these books of the Chronicles, appears to be to preserve the records of the house of David. Therefore the writer repeats not the history of Saul's reign, but only of his death, by which a way was made for David to the throne. And from the ruin of Saul, we may learn, 1. That the sin of sinners will certainly find them out, sooner or later; Saul died for his transgression. 2. That no man's greatness can exempt him from the judgments of God. 3. Disobedience is a killing thing. Saul died for not keeping the word of the Lord. May be delivered from unbelief, impatience, and despair. By waiting on the Lord we shall obtain a kingdom that cannot be moved.