1 Samuel 31 · a question people ask

At Endor Saul heard, "tomorrow you and your sons will be with me" (28:19). Is chapter 31 that word coming to pass?

In the text

Here is what each verse says. At Endor, Saul heard: "Moreover the LORD will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines" (28:19). In chapter 31, "the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa" (31:1), the Philistines killed three of Saul's sons (31:2), and "So Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men that same day together" (31:6). Chapter 31 doesn't point back to 28:19 or say that it fulfils it, and the book doesn't say how many days passed between the night at Endor (28:8, 28:25) and the battle; chapters 29 and 30 are told between them. Who spoke to Saul at Endor is read in more than one way, and chapter 28's honest question sets out the main views without choosing; this one doesn't choose either. 1 Chronicles, telling the same battle, gives a reason for Saul's death: "So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the LORD, because of the LORD’s word, which he didn’t keep, and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire" (1 Chronicles 10:13).

The verses

“Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. Then he said, “Please consult for me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomever I shall name to you.””
1 Samuel 28:8 · World English Bible
“Moreover the LORD will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.””
1 Samuel 28:19 · World English Bible
“She brought it before Saul and before his servants, and they ate. Then they rose up and went away that night.”
1 Samuel 28:25 · World English Bible
“Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.”
1 Samuel 31:1-2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Samuel 31

1 Samuel 31: Under the tamarisk tree

The town Saul's army rescued in chapter 11 is the town whose valiant men went all night to take his body and his sons' bodies from the wall of Beth Shan (11:9-11; 31:11-12). And his bones were buried under a tamarisk tree (31:13), a word the Hebrew Bible uses only three times, once for the tree Saul sat under in Gibeah with his spear in his hand (22:6).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions