took a sword. This account of Saul's death closely agrees with the account in 1 Samuel 31:3-6, and may even have been copied from it. However, it seems to conflict with the account given by the young Amalekite who told David that he had slain Saul (2 Samuel 1:2-10). Apparently, the attempted suicide by Saul had not quite succeeded, so what his armor-bearer was afraid to do, the Amalekite did without hesitation. Or, perhaps, he merely told David he had slain Saul, thinking thereby to gain favor with David. In either case, his presumption cost him his own life (2 Samuel 1:14-16).

his sons were dead. The sons mentioned here were those slain in the battle (1 Chronicles 10:2). A fourth son, Ishbosheth, did rule for five years after Saul's death.

familiar spirit. The Lord can exact severe penalties upon those who reject His word in favor of guidance from the occult sciences. The increasing modern return to reliance on “spirit-guides” and similar so-called New Age concepts (which are not new at all, but merely a reversion to ancient evolutionary pantheism) will eventually reap terrible judgments (Revelation 9:20, 21).

inquired not. This statement seems at first to contradict that of 1 Samuel 28:6, which notes that, “when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not.” The problem is, however, that two different Hebrew words are involved. In 1 Chronicles 10:14, the word translated “inquired” is darash, conveying the idea of “earnestly seeking.” This Saul did not do. What he did was to “inquire” (Hebrew shaal) which suggests only that he asked in fear, without repentance or real faith. This kind of prayer the Lord does not honor.

he slew him. Whether Saul died by his own hand or by the hand of the Amalekite, it was really by the hand of the Lord.