Old Testament: 1Ch 10.8–10

To read the Bible in a year, read First Chronicles 8–10 on May 23, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

Saul started in humility as Israel’s first king, but his early success and the power that he possessed as king, made him arrogant and full of himself so that he fell by pride. When he finally died, here is how it looked: 

So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among the people. Then they put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

– 1 Chronicles 10.8–10 

What a shame for a man whom God himself had chosen as his nation’s first king. The Israelites, through David, cut off the head of Goliath, and the Philistines cut off the head of Saul, who oversaw the death of their mighty champion. 

Goliath was arrogant and full of himself, falling through pride, but the same thing happened to a man of God for the same reason. 

Friends, no matter who you are, regardless of your success, never forget who put you in your position, because he can just as easily bring you down. 

Questions: 

• Can you find Mount Gilboa on a map? 
• Who later rescued the bodies of Saul and his sons? 

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