1 Samuel 31: The Death of Saul

The Philistines fought against Israel on Mount Gilboa, and the men of Israel fled. The Philistines killed Jonathan and two other sons of Saul. Saul was badly wounded by archers. When his armor bearer would not kill him, Saul fell on his own sword, and his armor bearer died with him. The Philistines dishonored Saul's body, but the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead traveled all night, took the bodies of Saul and his sons, buried their bones under the tamarisk tree, and fasted seven days.

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Read 1 Samuel 31

World English Bible · 13 verses

¹ Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ 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 abuse me!” But his armor bearer would not, for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ So Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men that same day together.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ On the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ They cut off his head, stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to the house of their idols and to the people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ They put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ When the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² all the valiant men arose, 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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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1 Samuel 31 · Preschool

Brave Friends

Name Date

Color the tamarisk tree in Jabesh where the brave men buried Saul and his sons!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.”

1 Samuel 31:13 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Saul and his sons died in a battle. Brave men came and buried them. They were very sad. When people are sad, we can be kind and help them.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

1 Samuel 31 · Grade 4

The End of a King

Name Date

Read and Think

First Samuel ends with Saul's final battle. As Samuel had said, Israel was delivered into the hand of the Philistines. The men of Israel fled, and Jonathan and two of his brothers were killed. The archers badly wounded Saul.

Saul asked his armor bearer to kill him, but the armor bearer was terrified and would not. So Saul took his own life by falling on his sword. Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men that same day. Israelites in nearby towns fled, and Philistines moved in. The Philistines dishonored Saul's body.

One act of loyalty shines at the end. The men of Jabesh Gilead remembered how Saul had rescued them at the start of his reign. Their valiant men traveled all night to recover the bodies of Saul and his sons. They buried their bones under the tamarisk tree and fasted seven days. The book ends in grief, but the way is now open for David, God's chosen king.

Show What You Know

What had Samuel said would happen?
Why would the armor bearer not kill Saul?
What did the men of Jabesh Gilead remember?
For whom is the way now open?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

tamariskJabeshvaliantJonathan

The men of Israel fled, and and two of his brothers were killed.
The men of Gilead remembered how Saul had rescued them at the start of his reign.
Their men traveled all night to recover the bodies of Saul and his sons.
They buried their bones under the tree and fasted seven days.

Think About It

How does Saul's life show the importance of obeying God over a whole lifetime?
How did the men of Jabesh show loyalty, and how can we show it too?

Memory Verse

“So Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men that same day together.”

1 Samuel 31:6 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for comforting me when I am sad. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How did Saul's life end differently from how it began?
What helps someone stay faithful to God for a lifetime?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

1 Samuel 31 · Grade 5

A Tragic Ending

Name Date

Read and Think

The final chapter of 1 Samuel records the fulfillment of the word spoken at Endor. On Mount Gilboa the men of Israel fled, and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. The archers overtook Saul, and he was greatly distressed. Jonathan, faithful to the end, died with the father who had tried to kill his friend.

Saul's death was as tragic as his life. Fearing that the Philistines would abuse him, he asked his armor bearer to thrust him through. When the armor bearer refused, Saul took his own life by falling on his sword. The narrator sums it up: So Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men that same day together. Israelites abandoned their cities, and the Philistines dishonored Saul's body.

Yet the book closes with an act of courage. The men of Jabesh Gilead had been rescued by Saul in chapter 11, in the first triumph of his reign. Now all the valiant men went all night, recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, buried their bones under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. Saul began with great promise but ended in disobedience and defeat. The story of 1 Samuel turns the reader toward David, the man after God's own heart.

Show What You Know

What does the final chapter fulfill?
How did Jonathan end his life?
When had Saul rescued Jabesh Gilead?
Toward whom does the story turn the reader?

Crossword

Across

They ____ seven days (31:13).
The mountain where Israel fled (31:1)

Down

They buried the bones under this tree (31:13)
The town whose men buried Saul (31:13)
All the ____ men arose (31:12).

Think About It

Saul began well but ended badly. What helps a person stay faithful to God for a lifetime?
How does the loyalty of Jabesh Gilead show the value of remembering kindness?

Memory Verse

“So Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men that same day together.”

1 Samuel 31:6 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for comforting me when I am sad. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why is remembering kindness important?
How does the end of 1 Samuel prepare for David's reign?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All 1 Samuel chapters · All books

1 Samuel 31: The Death of Saul

Read 1 Samuel 31

Worksheets

Brave Friends

Prayer

Take It Home

Brave Men

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

A Sad Day

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

The Death of Saul

Prayer

Take It Home

A Very Sad Day

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Saul's Last Battle

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

The Death of Saul

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The End of a King

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

A Tragic Ending

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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