8 It came about the next day , when the Philistines came to strip the slain , that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa . 9 So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people . 10 They put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon . 11 When all Jabesh-gilead e heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul , 12 all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh , and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh , and fasted seven days . 13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord , because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep ; and also because he asked counsel of a medium , making inquiry of it, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord . Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 10:8-14
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.