How did Saul die?

Answer 1

Saul committed suicide. 1 Samuel 31:4-6 Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. So Saul died. 1 Chronicles 10:4 Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. Saul was killed by an Amalekite. 2 Samuel 1:8-10 And he [Saul] said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me. So I stood upon him, and slew him. Saul was killed by the Philistines. 2 Samuel 21:12 The Philistines had slain Saul. God killed him. 1 Chronicles 10:14 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.

Answer 2

Probably about 1047 BC with the death of Saul. "So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, that same day together." (1 Sam. 31:6)

AnswerSaul died in 1050BC. This date is accurate and is calculated as follows below:-

Most scholars agree with Holst [see ref below] that work was started on the Temple in 966BC:-

"...King Solomon, King Hiram of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff came together to build Solomon's Temple in 966 BC. ..".

Solomon started building the Temple in the 4th year of his reign, which means he ascended the throne in 970 BC [966 + 4 = 970] :-1Ki 6:1 Four hundred and eighty years after the people of Israel left Egypt, during the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the second month, the month of Ziv, Solomon began work on the Temple.

Solomon began his rule when his father David died after reigning for 40 years:-2Sa 5:4 David was thirty years old when he became king, and he ruled for forty years.

(This means David began his reign in 1010BC [970 + 40 = 1010] .)

Saul died in battle:-1Sa 31:3, 6, 8 (v.3) The fighting was heavy around Saul, and he himself was hit by enemy arrows and badly wounded. (v.6) And that is how Saul, his three sons, and the young man died; all of Saul's men died that day. (v.8)The day after the battle the Philistines went to plunder the corpses, and they found the bodies of Saul and his three sons lying on Mount Gilboa.

2Sa 1:1-10 GNB After Saul's death David came back from his victory over the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag for two days. (v.2) The next day a young man arrived from Saul's camp. To show his grief, he had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head. He went to David and bowed to the ground in respect

[Now that Saul was dead, it was rather wise to show respect to David as the next king, even if he wasn't crowned yet.]

(v.3) David asked him, "Where have you come from?" "I have escaped from the Israelite camp," he answered. (v.4) "Tell me what happened," David said. "Our army ran away from the battle," he replied, "and many of our men were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan were also killed." (v.5) "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan are dead?" David asked him. (v.6) He answered, "I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and I saw that Saul was leaning on his spear and that the chariots and cavalry of the enemy were closing in on him. (v.7) Then he turned around, saw me, and called to me. I answered, 'Yes, sir!' (v.8) He asked who I was, and I told him that I was an Amalekite. (v.9) Then he said, 'Come here and kill me! I have been badly wounded, and I'm about to die.' (v.10) So I went up to him and killed him, because I knew that he would die anyway as soon as he fell. Then I took the crown from his [ie Saul's] head and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them to you, sir.[ie David]"

David was then crowned King:-

2Sa 2:4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and anointed David as king of Judah....

Saul had reigned for 40 years:-Act 13:21 And when they asked for a king, God gave them Saul son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin, to be their king for forty years.

This means Saul's reign started in 1050BC [1010 + 40 = 1050], and that he reigned until 1010BC. (This would make him born in 1120BC since he was 70 when he died). All these dates are dependent on the Temple dating, but as most scholars agree on that it is safe to say King Saul died in 1010BC.

Answer 3

Saul died at a relatively young age, in battle (1 Samuel ch.31). Even worse, he was compelled to take his own life as the warring Philistines drew near, since he knew they would torture him (ibid).

Answer 4

There is nothing in scripture but tradition says that Paul was beheaded about 64-65 AD. under orders from Roman Emperor Nero.

Answer 5

There are 22 mentions of Saul and death in The Bible, the last can be found in 1 Chronicles 10:3

Answer 6

In battle, after he sought council from the witch of Endor.

Answer 7

He committed suicide by his sword because the Philistines were victorious in battle and he knew they'd torture him.

Answer 8

Saul and three of his sons were killed by the Philistines in battle (1 Samuel ch.30).