A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

his son Jonathan would both die. Saul’s constant pursuit of David over a period of more than a
decade had actually driven David into Philistine territory for protection.
THE END OF SAUL
(1 Sam. 28:1-31:13)
“Now it happened in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for
war, to fight with Israel” (1 Sam. 28:1). For some time David and his men had lived with the
Philistines and fought against their common enemies. When the Philistines attacked Israel, a
genuine conflict of interest arose. The problem arose of David compromising himself by fighting
in a battle against Israel. Or David could betray an ally and fight against the Philistines. But at
this time the Amalekites had invaded his city of Ziklag and burned it with fire. Therefore, David
was occupied in rescuing the families of his men from the Amalekites. He was not in the battle
between Israel and Philistia when Saul was killed.
As the Philistine army gathered, Saul became increasingly fearful of what might take
place. “And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by
Urim or by the prophets” (v. 6). In the latter years of his reign, Saul had driven away everyone
that could have helped him at his moment of need. David, who had never lost a battle against the
Philistines, was in exile in Philistia. The priests whom he would normally consult for spiritual
counsel had been killed by Doeg the Edomite on the king’s command. Samuel the prophet was