1. I Filistei attaccarono Israele, ma gli uomini d'Israele fuggirono davanti ai Filistei e caddero trafitti sul monte Gèlboe.
2. I Filistei si strinsero attorno a Saul e ai suoi figli e colpirono a morte Giònata, Abinadàb e Malchisùa, figli di Saul.
3. La battaglia si concentrò intorno a Saul: gli arcieri lo presero di mira con gli archi ed egli fu ferito gravemente dagli arcieri.
4. Allora Saul disse al suo scudiero: "Sfodera la spada e trafiggimi, prima che vengano quegli incirconcisi a trafiggermi e a schernirmi". Ma lo scudiero non volle, perché era troppo spaventato. Allora Saul prese la spada e vi si gettò sopra.
5. Quando lo scudiero vide che Saul era morto, si gettò anche lui sulla sua spada e morì con lui.
6. Così morirono insieme in quel giorno Saul e i suoi tre figli, lo scudiero e anche tutti i suoi uomini.
7. Quando gli Israeliti che erano dall'altra parte della valle e quelli che erano oltre il Giordano videro che gli uomini d'Israele erano in fuga e che erano morti Saul e i suoi figli, abbandonarono le loro città e fuggirono. Vennero i Filistei e vi si stabilirono.
8. Il giorno dopo, i Filistei vennero a spogliare i cadaveri e trovarono Saul e i suoi tre figli caduti sul monte Gèlboe.
9. Essi gli tagliarono la testa, lo spogliarono delle armi e mandarono a dare il felice annuncio in giro nella terra dei Filistei, ai templi dei loro idoli e al popolo.
10. Deposero le sue armi nel tempio di Astarte e appesero il suo corpo alle mura di Bet-Sean.
11. Gli abitanti di Iabes di Gàlaad vennero a sapere quello che i Filistei avevano fatto a Saul.
12. Tutti i guerrieri si mossero: viaggiarono tutta la notte e presero il corpo di Saul e i corpi dei suoi figli dalle mura di Bet-Sean, li portarono a Iabes e qui li bruciarono.
13. Poi presero le loro ossa, le seppellirono sotto il tamerisco che è a Iabes e fecero digiuno per sette giorni.
Footnotes:
31:1-2 - The Philistines defeat the Israelites in battle and kill Saul's sons, including Jonathan. The death of Jonathan, David's faithful friend, marks a tragic moment, showing the consequences of Saul's disobedience (see also 1 Samuel 13:13-14 and 2 Samuel 1:25-26).
31:3-4 - Saul, gravely wounded, asks to be killed, but his armor-bearer refuses. Saul then takes his own life. His tragic death reflects the end of a reign marked by disobedience and spiritual decline (see also 1 Samuel 28:19 and 1 Chronicles 10:13-14).
31:5-6 - Saul's armor-bearer, seeing the king's death, also commits suicide. This act highlights the desperation on the battlefield and the armor-bearer's desperate loyalty to his master (see also Judges 9:54 and 1 Kings 16:18).
31:7 - When the Israelites see that Saul is dead, they flee, and the Philistines take possession of the Israelite cities. Israel's defeat marks a national crisis and an imminent transition of power (see also 1 Samuel 4:10-11 and 2 Samuel 2:4).
31:8-13 - The Philistines expose the bodies of Saul and his sons, but the men of Jabesh-gilead recover and bury the bodies. The devotion of the men of Jabesh to Saul for his deliverance demonstrates a memory of gratitude and honor even after his death (see also 1 Samuel 11:1-11 and 2 Samuel 2:4-7).
Verses related to Samuele 1, 31:
1 Samuel chapter 31 recounts the tragic end of Saul and his sons. How does an era in the history of Israel end? This dark text describes Israel's defeat by the Philistines, Saul's suicide, and the deaths of his sons, including Jonathan. The chapter explores themes of the fall of a leader, the consequences of disobedience, and the end of a dynasty. The desecration of the bodies and their subsequent recovery add depth to the narrative. Examine with us five biblical passages that elucidate the principles of judgment and honor present in this final chapter of 1 Samuel.
2 Samuel 1:19-27: "Your glory, O Israel, lies dead upon your mountains! How the mighty have fallen! [...] Saul and Jonathan, loved and pleasant in life, were not separated in death! They were more agile than eagles, stronger than lions." - David's lament over the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, reflecting on the events of 1 Samuel 31.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14: "Thus Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, not the Lord. So the Lord killed him and handed the kingdom over to David son of Jesse." - Offers a theological interpretation of Saul's death.
Ecclesiastes 9:11: "I also observed that, under the sun, the fast do not always win the race; the strong do not always triumph in war; the wise do not always have food; the prudent are not always rich; the educated do not always have prestige; because time and chance affect everyone." - Reflects on the fall of Saul, a powerful king, in battle.
Proverbs 16:18: "Pride comes before destruction; the haughty spirit, before the fall." - It can be applied to the fall of Saul, which began with his pride and disobedience to God.
Psalms 146:3-4: "Do not trust in princes, in mere mortals, incapable of saving. When their spirit is gone, they return to dust; That same day his plans come to an end." - Reflects on the mortality of human leaders, as demonstrated by the death of Saul.
FAQ:
How did Saul die?
Saul, wounded by the Philistines, fell on his own sword to avoid being captured and humiliated by them. (1 Samuel 31:3-4)
Who else died along with Saul?
Saul’s sons, including Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua, were killed in battle against the Philistines. (1 Samuel 31:2)
What did the Philistines do with Saul's body?
They cut off his head, exposed his body in the temple of Dagon, and hung him on the walls of Beth Shan. (1 Samuel 31:8-10)
How did the men of Jabesh-gilead honor Saul?
They recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, burned them, and buried the bones under a tree. (1 Samuel 31:11-13)
What is the significance of Saul's death in the history of Israel?
It marks the end of his reign and the transition to the reign of David, chosen by God. (1 Samuel 31:6, 2 Samuel 2:4)
