1 Chronicles 10 1

1 Chronicles 10:1 kjv

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

1 Chronicles 10:1 nkjv

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

1 Chronicles 10:1 niv

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.

1 Chronicles 10:1 esv

Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

1 Chronicles 10:1 nlt

Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.

1 Chronicles 10 verses

1 Chronicles 10 1 Meaning

1 Chronicles 10:1 succinctly narrates the final and devastating battle between the Philistines and the Israelite army, where Israel was routed. It records the death of many Israelite soldiers, marking a decisive end to the reign of Saul, Israel's first king. This verse, therefore, signifies not merely a military defeat, but a divinely ordained transition of power and judgment on a disobedient king. It immediately sets the stage for the chronicler's primary focus: the ascent of King David and the establishment of the legitimate, God-ordained dynasty.

1 Chronicles 10 1 Context

1 Chronicles is not merely a historical recount but a theological narrative, written after the Babylonian exile to provide the restored community in Judah with a sense of identity, continuity, and hope. Its primary focus is the legitimate kingship of the Davidic line and the central importance of the Temple and proper worship.

Chapter 10 serves as a bridge, abruptly transitioning from the genealogies of chapter 9 to the establishment of the Davidic kingdom. The chronicler intentionally abbreviates the detailed narrative of Saul's reign found in 1 Samuel, choosing instead to focus solely on the circumstances of Saul's demise. This serves a specific purpose: to explain why Saul's dynasty failed and to quickly clear the stage for David, whose kingship is presented as divinely chosen and righteous. The defeat on Mount Gilboa, and Saul's subsequent death, are depicted not just as a historical event but as a divine judgment against Saul's disobedience and unfaithfulness, as explicitly stated in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14. Thus, verse 1 immediately plunges the reader into the end of an era marked by divine disapproval, paving the way for God's true king.

1 Chronicles 10 1 Word analysis

• Now (וַיִּלָּחֲמוּ, wa-yyil·lā·ḥămū): The opening word connects the passage to previous content (genealogies, Saul's line in chapter 9) but also introduces a significant turning point. It's often translated simply as "Now," indicating sequential action, but here it launches the core historical narrative after lists.
• the Philistines (פְּלִשְׁתִּים, pĕlištim): These were Israel's persistent and formidable adversaries throughout much of the period of the judges and early monarchy. Their constant opposition to Israel often served as a divine chastening tool or a test of Israel's faithfulness to God. Their victory here underscores divine judgment on Israel under Saul's leadership.
• fought (וַיִּלָּחֲמוּ, wa-yyil·lā·ḥămū): This Hebrew verb signifies "to wage war," "to fight." Its use here indicates the direct, violent engagement that brought about the catastrophic end of Saul's rule.
• against Israel (בְיִשְׂרָאֵל, bĕ-yiśrā'ēl): This is not just a fight against Saul, but against the collective people of Israel, underscoring the severity of the national calamity brought on by their leader's sin and, implicitly, their own.
• and the men of Israel (וְאִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, wĕ-'îš yiśrā'ēl): Refers to the Israelite soldiers or the collective able-bodied male population serving in the army. It emphasizes that the defeat was widespread, affecting the nation's fighting force.
• fled (וַיָּנֻסוּ, wa-yānusū): This verb signifies "to flee," "to escape." It depicts panic, rout, and a lack of resilience or divine backing, indicating complete demoralization and defeat.
• from before (מִפְּנֵי, mippĕnê): Lit. "from the face of." This idiom expresses the immediate presence and overwhelming force from which they fled, emphasizing the Philistine dominance in this confrontation.
• the Philistines (פְלִשְׁתִּים, pĕlištim): Repetition of "Philistines" underscores their successful military campaign and dominance in this crucial encounter, reinforcing their role as the instruments of judgment.
• and fell slain (וַיִּפְּלוּ חֲלָלִים, wa-yippĕlū ḥălālîm): "Fell" implies dying in battle, while "ḥălālîm" (slain) specifically refers to those who died by the sword or in battle. This phrase conveys the massive loss of life, confirming the complete devastation of Israel's forces.
• on Mount Gilboa (בְּהַר הַגִּלְבֹּעַ, bĕ-har hag-gilbōaʿ): A specific mountain range in northern Israel, geographically important as the scene of this major defeat. Its distinct identification gives a historical anchor to the tragic event and becomes a place associated with national humiliation and Saul's end. The place name would evoke sorrow for the original audience familiar with David's lament.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now the Philistines fought against Israel": Establishes the combatants and the aggressor (Philistines). This setup highlights the active judgment occurring. The battle is depicted as decisive and focused directly on "Israel," signaling a national calamity, not just a king's personal conflict.
• "and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines": This segment vividly portrays the immediate result of the Philistine attack: a complete and chaotic rout of the Israelite army. The flight is presented as an act of cowardice or divine desertion, symbolizing the brokenness of Israel's military might under Saul. The preposition "from before" (מִפְּנֵי) emphasizes their inability to stand in the face of the enemy, highlighting Philistine overwhelming power, which implicitly means a lack of God's protection for Israel in that moment.
• "and fell slain on Mount Gilboa": This concluding phrase summarizes the ultimate tragedy: mass casualties. The mention of "Mount Gilboa" anchors the event to a specific, historically significant, and tragic location, creating a somber backdrop. For the chronicler's audience, it quickly brings to mind the well-known story of Saul's death and the transfer of kingship, which is the key theological message the chronicler wants to convey about this event.

1 Chronicles 10 1 Bonus section

The chronicler's account of Saul's death here (and its immediate cause in vv.1-12) serves as a theological statement about divine justice. Unlike 1 Samuel which narrates Saul's suicide (1 Sam 31:4), Chronicles frames his death and the Israelite defeat as directly tied to his disobedience, particularly his turning away from the Lord and consulting a medium (1 Chr 10:13-14). This reinterpretation or emphasis from the Chronicler's perspective serves a significant polemical purpose against the notion of human kingship existing independent of divine favor and adherence to God's law. It establishes that a king's failure to adhere to the covenant has direct, severe national consequences, serving as a powerful lesson for future leaders and the post-exilic community about faithful governance and the necessity of true worship. This theological lens colors the entire narrative of Chronicles, contrasting the negative portrayal of Saul's unfaithful kingdom with the righteous establishment of David's kingdom rooted in adherence to God.

1 Chronicles 10 1 Commentary

1 Chronicles 10:1 concisely details Israel's devastating defeat by the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, culminating in the death of many Israelite soldiers. The chronicler, in stark contrast to the longer account in 1 Samuel, quickly gets to the heart of the matter: this military catastrophe was the immediate, visible consequence of God's judgment upon King Saul for his disobedience and unfaithfulness. The brevity is intentional, shifting focus swiftly from the failed reign of Saul to the ascendance of the chosen king, David. It underlines the theological premise that God is sovereign over nations and kings, removing those who fail to uphold His covenant and establishing those aligned with His will. This battle scene serves as a crucial bridge, setting the historical and spiritual stage for the introduction of King David and the lineage that leads to the Messiah, reinforcing the theme of divine election and dynastic continuity that defines the book of Chronicles. The scene foreshadows a kingdom to come that will not be defeated but will stand forever.