The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 554

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-6. (GILDOA.)-The death of Saul. "So Saul died" (ver. 6; 2 Sam. i. 1-16; 1 Chron. x.). While the e'l"ents mentioned in the preceding chapter were taking place in the south, and even before their occurrence, "the great drama so closely connected with them was being played out" in the north. · On the morrow of Saul's consultation of "the witch of Endor" the Philistines marched across the plain, with their archers, chariots, and horsemen (2 Sam. i. 6), and attacked the army of Israel. The issue appears to have been soon decided. "The men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in Gilboa," up the slopes of which, they h:i.d been pursued. "And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and his sons," who fell fighting around him. Hard pressed and found by the archers, he trem- bled (" was sore wounded," A. V.) before them, seeing no way to escape falling into their hands; and (as the night set in), with the reckless courage of despair with which he had fought, his armour-bearer having refused to slay him, he "took the sword and fell upon it." His armour-bearer followed his example. "At that moment a wild Amalekite, lured probably to the field by the hope of spoil, came up and finished the work which the arrows of the Philistines and the sword of Saul him- self had all but accomplished" (Stanley). "A remarkable dispensation. As the curse on Amalek was accomplished by Saul, so that on Saul was accomplished by .Amalek" (Hengstenberg). Or, perhaps, the story of the Amalekite was false, and told to ingratiate himself with David and obtain a reward for the diadem and bracelet cf which he had stripped the fallen king. In either case, self-willed to the last, scorning "these uncircumcised," and more concerned about his own honour than the honour of God, he rushed upon his own destruction. "0 Saul! How ghastly didst thou look, on thine own sword Expiring in Gilboa, from that hour Ne er visited with rain from heaven nor dew" (Dante, 'Purg.' xii.). Observe that- I. RETRIBUTION SURJl!LY OVERTAKES THE IMPENITENT TRANSGRESSOR. 1. The fult desert of sin might be justly inflicted immediately on_ its commission.. But i? a state of probation space is allowed for repentance _and motives afforded to 1'?duc? 1t. Yet, if sin be persisted in, guilt increases and Judgment _becomes more mev1table and severe. "He, that being often reproved har?eneth Ins neck, shall sud_dei:ily be d~: stroyed, and that without remedy" (Prov. xx1x. 1). "The wnges o~ sm 1s de~th (Rom. vi. 23). "The wages may be deferred or may not be consc10usly rece1vecl 1 CH. XXXI, 1-13.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SA~UEL. 5G7