1 SAMUEL 31

1 Samuel 31 Outline

  • Saul & His Sons Die Together (v1-6)
  • Philistines Fasten Saul's Body To The Wall (v7-10)
  • Valiant Men Take Down Saul's Body (v11-13)

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 31:6Information Icon

1 Samuel 31:6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. (ESV)

1 Samuel 31

Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

(ESV)

1 Samuel 31 ContextInformation Icon

Book: 1 Samuel

Chapter: 31 of 31 Chapters

Written In: Hebrew

Passage Type: Narrative

Events Date Range: 1024 B.C. - 1010 B.C.

Parallel History: 1 Chronicles 10

Prophetic Passages Fulfilled By 1 Samuel 31: 1 Samuel 28

1 Samuel 31 VisualsInformation Icon

1 Samuel 31 TeachingsInformation Icon

1 Samuel 31 TimeframeInformation Icon

4004 B.C.

Creation

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Relevant Books: Genesis

Narrative Chapters: Genesis 1, Genesis 2

2348 B.C.

Worldwide Flood

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Relevant Books: Genesis

Narrative Chapters: Genesis 6, Genesis 7, Genesis 8

1996 B.C.

Life of Abraham

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Relevant Books: Genesis

Narrative Chapters: Genesis 11

1492 B.C.

10 Plagues in Egypt

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Nations Involved: Egypt, Israel

Relevant Books: Exodus

Narrative Chapters: Exodus 7, Exodus 8, Exodus 9, Exodus 10, Exodus 11, Exodus 12

1491 B.C.

Moses Leads Israel Out Of Egypt

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Nations Involved: Egypt

Relevant Books: Exodus

Narrative Chapters: Exodus 12, Exodus 13, Exodus 14, Exodus 15, Exodus 16, Exodus 17, Exodus 18, Exodus 19

1450 B.C.

Israel Crosses Into The Promised Land

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Nations Involved: Israel

Relevant Books: Joshua

Narrative Chapters: Joshua 3

Prophecy Chapters: Numbers 14:34

1040 B.C.

Birth of David

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Nations Involved: Israel

1024 B.C.

1 Samuel 31 Events Timeframe: 1024 B.C. - 1010 B.C.

1010 B.C.

David Reigns Over Judah

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Nations Involved: Judah

Relevant Books: 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles

Narrative Chapters: 2 Samuel 2, 2 Samuel 3, 2 Samuel 4

959 B.C.

Solomon Completes the Temple

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931 B.C.

Israel Divided: Israel & Judah

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Nations Involved: Israel: Northern Kingdom, Judah: Southern Kingdom

Relevant Books: 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles

Narrative Chapters: 1 Kings 12

722 B.C.

Assyria Conquered Israel

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Nations Involved: Israel: Northern Kingdom

Relevant Books: 2 Kings

Narrative Chapters: 2 Kings 17

4 B.C.

Birth of Jesus

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Nations Involved: Rome, Israel

Relevant Books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Narrative Chapters: Luke 1, Luke 2, Matthew 1

32 A.D.

Jesus Crucified & Resurrected

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Nations Involved: Israel

Relevant Books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

Narrative Chapters: Matthew 27, Matthew 28, Mark 15, Mark 16, Luke 22, Luke 23, Luke 24, John 18, John 19, John 20, John 21

Prophecy Chapters: Isaiah 53