Did all of Saul’s family die with him or not? 1 Chronicles 10:6
Here we read, “Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.” But, in 2 Samuel 2:8, Saul’s son Ishbosheth was not killed and was even later made king.
1 Chronicles 10:1 - 14
ESV - 1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.
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Asked May 21 2022
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
The parallel passage to 1 Chronicles 10:6 is 1 Samuel 31:6, which states: “So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day”. As noted in the question, Saul actually had four sons (including Ishbosheth—2 Samuel 2:8), but the phrase “his three sons” is stated to specify the ones who were actually in the battle with their father against the Philistines. Similarly, the phrase “all his house” encompassed only those servants who were with him in the battle at that time and place. An exposition of this point of view can be found at https://apologeticspress.org/did-all-of-sauls-house-die-together-5082/
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
1 Chronicles 10:6 has this: Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house—his sons and courtiers who were there engaged in the battle. But it appears that Ish-bosheth and Mephibosheth were kept at Gibeah on account of their youth. JFB Ryrie writes about "all his house" and says it means all the men who fought with him. Some of his sons and troops did survive, he says (2 Sam. 2:8; 21:8). Ishbosheth was not encompassed by this statement, since he was not part of Saul’s house who had attended him or followed him to war. So he was not part of the group referred to as “all Saul’s men.” And an exposition of this point of view can be found at https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/1_Chronicles_10.6.php
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