Single lesson
Saul and Jonathan Die
1 Samuel 31:1–13; 1 Chronicles 10:1–14
This lesson traces the final battle of Saul and his sons, the actions that followed, and the reason 1 Chronicles gives for Saul’s death. Students will order the events, notice key choices, and discuss what the passage says about seeking Yahweh.
Before you teach
Both readings describe the same battle on Mount Gilboa, the deaths of Saul and his sons, the Philistines’ treatment of Saul’s body, and the brave response from Jabesh Gilead. 1 Chronicles also adds an explanation, saying Saul died for trespass against Yahweh, for not keeping Yahweh’s word, and for asking counsel of a familiar spirit instead of inquiring of Yahweh.
Students will be able to sequence the passage, identify at least two choices and outcomes in the text, and explain from 1 Chronicles why Saul died.
Welcome: handling a hard Bible passage carefully
5 minExplain that this passage is a sad and serious ending. Tell students they will observe what the text says, not act out the deaths. Introduce the goal: follow the order of events, notice people’s choices, and hear the reason 1 Chronicles gives for Saul’s death and the kingdom changing hands.
1 Samuel 31:1, 1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Chronicles 10:13, 1 Chronicles 10:14
Read and map the battle’s sequence
10 minRead 1 Samuel 31:1-10 aloud. As students listen, list the events in order: Israel fled, Saul’s sons were killed, Saul was distressed by the archers, Saul died, his armour bearer died, cities were abandoned, and the Philistines displayed Saul’s body and armour. Briefly explain that ‘archers’ are bowmen and ‘Ashtaroth’ is named as a place linked with the Philistines’ worship.
1 Samuel 31:1, 1 Samuel 31:2, 1 Samuel 31:3, 1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Samuel 31:5, 1 Samuel 31:7, 1 Samuel 31:10
Discuss the choices and outcomes in the passage
8 minAsk students to identify choices named in the text and their outcomes. Saul asked his armour bearer to kill him, but the armour bearer refused in terror. The men of Israel abandoned their cities when they saw what had happened. The valiant men of Jabesh Gilead arose, travelled, took the bodies, buried the bones, and fasted seven days.
1 Samuel 31:4, 1 Samuel 31:7, 1 Samuel 31:11, 1 Samuel 31:12, 1 Samuel 31:13
Compare the Chronicles explanation
9 minRead 1 Chronicles 10:11-14. Point out that this passage keeps the account of Jabesh Gilead, then gives a reason for Saul’s death. It says Saul committed trespass against Yahweh, did not keep Yahweh’s word, asked counsel of one with a familiar spirit, and did not inquire of Yahweh. It also says the kingdom was turned over to David son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10:11, 1 Chronicles 10:12, 1 Chronicles 10:13, 1 Chronicles 10:14
Closing response: what this teaches about God and people
8 minInvite students to write one sentence beginning, ‘This passage shows...’ Encourage answers tied closely to the text, such as the seriousness of not keeping Yahweh’s word, the difference between asking other counsel and inquiring of Yahweh, or the courage shown by the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead. Finish by reviewing the sequence together.
1 Chronicles 10:13, 1 Chronicles 10:14, 1 Samuel 31:12, 1 Samuel 31:13
Questions to explore
What events show that the battle ended in defeat for Israel and loss for Saul’s family?
Look for the verses about Israel fleeing, Saul’s sons being killed, and cities being abandoned by the people.
1 Samuel 31:1, 1 Samuel 31:2, 1 Samuel 31:7
How does the passage describe the response of the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead?
List their actions in order, including travelling, taking the bodies, burial, and fasting.
1 Samuel 31:11, 1 Samuel 31:12, 1 Samuel 31:13, 1 Chronicles 10:12
According to 1 Chronicles, why did Saul die, and what happened to the kingdom?
Use the explanation in the final two verses rather than guessing from earlier details alone.
1 Chronicles 10:13, 1 Chronicles 10:14
Make, think or respond
Battle to Burial Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pens or pencils
- Bible
- scissors
- envelope or small container
Try it together
- Write one event from the passage on each card, such as Israel fled, Jonathan was killed, Saul was distressed, Saul died, cities were abandoned, the Philistines displayed Saul’s body, and the valiant men of Jabesh Gilead buried the bones and fasted.
- Mix the cards and ask students in pairs to place them in order using the Bible text to check each step.
- Ask each pair to mark one card with a choice people made and one card with an outcome that followed.
- Read 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 and add a final card stating the reason given there for Saul’s death and the kingdom being turned over to David.
- Review the ordered set together and correct it from the verses.
The activity helps students follow the account carefully and distinguish between the events in the story and the explanation given in 1 Chronicles.
Adapt for your group
- For younger or less confident readers, prepare fewer cards with short phrases and read each verse aloud before students place the card.
- For older or more confident students, ask them to make two columns beside the sequence: ‘what happened’ from 1 Samuel 31 and ‘why it happened’ from 1 Chronicles 10:13-14.
An optional closing prayer
‘Lord God, help us listen carefully to your word, take seriously what you say, and learn to seek you faithfully. Please give us wisdom as we read hard passages. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Samuel 31
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.
2 The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
3 The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.
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.
5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men that same day together.
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.
8 On the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
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.
10 They put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan.
11 When the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
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.
13 They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
1 Chronicles 10
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.
2 The Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
3 The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed by reason of the archers.
4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it.
5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died.
6 So Saul died with his three sons; and all his house died together.
7 When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
8 On the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9 They stripped him and took his head and his armor, then sent into the land of the Philistines all around to carry the news to their idols and to the people.
10 They put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.
11 When all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of Yahweh’s word, which he didn’t keep, and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire,
14 and didn’t inquire of Yahweh. Therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
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