Chapter 10

1 Saul’s overthrow and death. 8 The Philistines triumph over Saul. 11 The kindness of Jabesh-gilead towards Saul and his sons. 13 Saul’s sin, for which the kingdom was translated from him to David.

1. Now the Philistines. Verses 1–12 parallel 1 Sam. 31:1–13. The two accounts are almost identical but certain variations do occur.

6. All his house died. This statement is not intended to convey the idea that there were no survivors of the house of Saul, for Ish-bosheth survived (2 Sam. 2:8). Its object seems, rather, to indicate the completeness of the fall. The family of Saul was no more to rise to power.

7. The valley. That is, the Valley of Jezreel (see on 1 Sam. 29:1).

10. House of their gods. “House of Ashtaroth” (1 Sam. 31:10). Ashtoreth was the Canaanite counterpart of the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar. She was the goddess of sexual love and of war (see on Judges 2:13).

Fastened his head. This detail is not mentioned in the book of Samuel, which, on the other hand, mentions the fastening of Saul’s body to the wall of Beth-shan (1 Sam. 31:10), a detail the chronicler does not record here.

Dagon. The national god of the Philistines (see on 1 Sam. 5:2).

13. Died for his transgression. This statement is not found in Samuel. It is characteristic of the writer of Chronicles, who constantly moralizes on the terrible effects of transgression and the blessings of righteousness.

Which he kept not. Saul’s great sin was disobedience to the Lord’s commands (see 1 Sam. 13:13).

A familiar spirit. Having failed to give heed to the Lord, Saul turned to a medium to ask guidance and counsel of demons (see on 1 Sam. 28:7–20).

14. And enquired not of the Lord. Before inquiring of the witch of Endor, Saul endeavored to secure an answer from God, but failed (1 Sam. 28:6). The Lord refused to give ear to Saul. Had Saul truly repented, coming to the Lord in meekness and penitence, God would have heard him. His turning to a medium who represented the evil one indicates clearly the depths to which Saul had fallen (see on 1 Sam. 28:6, 7).

Unto David. In these words the transition is made from the early history of the people of God to David the king. The dynasty of David will now be the subject of the remainder of Chronicles.

Ellen G. White comments

1–14PP 681–683

1–4PP 681

5–12PP 682

13, 14  PP 683