“1 Samuel 29–31: David’s Success and Saul’s Death,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2002), 99
“1 Samuel 29–31,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, 99
David’s Success and Saul’s Death
In 1 Samuel 29–31 is recorded how the Philistines decided to once again attack the Israelites. Worried about whether David might turn against them, they asked him to leave their land. David and his men left. Upon leaving, David and his men continued to destroy the idolatrous enemies of Israel. When David obtained goods and cattle, he sent portions of them to each of the cities in Judah. In this way David began to build support for the time when Saul would die and he would lead Israel.
The book of 1 Samuel ends with the death of the first king in Israel. Saul saw that they were going to lose the battle against the Philistines. Rather than die at the hands of the Philistines, Saul asked his armourbearer to take his life, but the armourbearer would not. So Saul leaned on his own sword and took his own life.