Map of Mount Carmel
Map of Mount Carmel south of the sprawling Jezreel Valley in northern Israel, by the Mediterranean Sea.
Mount Carmel
Jezreel Valley in Galilee
Jezreel Valley
Stealing King Saul’s body
Stealing King Saul's body
Stealing King Saul's body
SAUL’S POSITION OVERRUN
Philistines attacked Saul’s Israelite army and sent the warriors running for their lives. Many died on Mount Gilboa. Philistines began to overrun King Saul’s position. They killed three of his sons there: Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.Saul falls on his sword
Philistines pushed hard, and soon the archers got Saul in range. They hit him and wounded him badly. Saul told the soldier in charge of his armor and weapons, “Finish this. Take your sword and drive it through me. I don’t want pagan Philistines to use me for target practice before they kill me,” The terrified soldier refused. So, Saul picked up his own sword and fell on it. When the soldier saw the king was dead, he fell on his sword, too. He died with his king. Saul and his three sons and his weapons man all died the same day.THE KING IS DEAD
News of Israel’s defeat spread. Many Israelites emptied their towns because they knew the Philistines were coming to take them. These included Israelites beyond the north side of the Jezreel valley and Israelites east of the Jordan River. Philistines moved into those homes. The story is in 1 Samuel 31. For other Bible versions, see Bible Gateway.Philistines go to war with Israel
Philistines go to war with Israel
Philistines prep for war with Israel
King Saul and three sons will die in the battle
Philistines assembled their armies at Aphek. Israel’s warriors gathered at Jezreel Spring. Philistine rulers led their armies into the camp, marching them in companies of 100 or battalions of 1,000. King Achish’s army from Gath arrived last, with David’s army marching at the rear.Shocked to see David marching with Philistines
Philistine commanders were shocked to see David there, with his men. They said, “Are you kidding? Hebrews? What are they doing here? That’s David, one of Saul’s men.” King Achish said, “Not anymore. He’s with me now. He defected over a year ago. And he has never given me any reason to doubt him.” Philistine commanders didn’t buy it. Furious, they told Achish, “Send that guy back to wherever you had him. We don’t want him up here in the battle. He might turn on us. If he gave our heads to Saul, that would go a long way to restoring their friendship. This is the guy who got the Hebrews dancing as they sang:Song of David, not so much of King Saul
Saul killed a thousand men. David, a thousand times ten.David an "angel"
Achish told David, “I know you’re an honest man. I’d swear it. In all the time you’ve been with me, I’ve seen you do nothing wrong. If it were up to me, I’d take you into battle alongside me and my men. But the other rulers won’t let me. So go back peacefully. Don’t cause a scene or do anything to upset the Philistine rulers.” David said, “I don’t understand this. What have I done wrong? Name one thing in all the time I’ve been with you. Why am I suddenly not fit to fight the enemies of my king?” Achish said, “David, as far as I’m concerned, you’re as righteous as an angel. But the commanders don’t want you in this fight. They said, ‘He’s not going into the battle with us. Period.’ Spend the night here, but I want you to leave at dawn. Take your men back to their regular duties.”David skips the battle
David and his men left for Philistine territory early the next morning. But the Philistine armies marched up to Jezreel. 1 Samuel 29Map of Jezreel
Map of Jezreel
Map of the ancient city of Jezreel, with it's getaway palace of Israel's kings. It was located on the southern edge of the sprawling Jezreel Valley. Here is where an Israelite chariot corps commander launched a coup by assassinating the last king in the royal family dynasty of King Ahab and his father, King Omri.
Map Jezreel, Jezreel Valley