Contradictions and Paradoxes in 1 Samuel 31:7

Check out Contradictions Catalog of 1 Samuel 31:7 for the comprehensive list of verses that contradicts 1 Samuel 31:7. Some key contradictions and paradoxes are described below.

According to the author of 1 Samuel, when the Israelite men saw that their king Saul and his sons had died, and their army was running away, they became scared and left their homes. Then, the Philistines, who were their enemies, moved in and lived in the cities the Israelites had left.

1 Samuel 31:7: And when the men of Israel that [were] on the other side of the valley, and [they] that [were] on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

Contradiction with 1 Samuel 31:4

Although Saul asked his armor-bearer to kill him, his armor-bearer refused, leading Saul to take his own life. This suggests a different outcome compared to the Philistines finding him wounded in 31:7.

1 Samuel 31:4: Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. [abuse...: or, mock me]

Contradiction with 2 Samuel 1:10

Here, it is recounted that an Amalekite claims to have killed Saul, which contradicts the implication in 1 Samuel 31:7 that the Philistines killed him.

2 Samuel 1:10: So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that [was] upon his head, and the bracelet that [was] on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

Contradiction with 2 Samuel 21:12

This verse states that the Philistines killed Saul on Mount Gilboa, which can be seen as a contradiction to the sequence of events in 1 Samuel 31 where Saul ends his own life.

2 Samuel 21:12: And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

Contradiction with 1 Chronicles 10:4

This verse aligns more closely with the earlier description in 1 Samuel 31:4 of Saul falling on his sword, indicating a different interpretation than the Philistines directly slaying him as suggested in their actions following verse 31:7.

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. [abuse me: or, mock me]

Contradiction with 1 Samuel 31:4-5

These verses depict Saul's death as a result of his own actions, contradicting the idea that the Philistines’ actions in 31:7 directly resulted in his death.

1 Samuel 31:4-5: Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. [abuse...: or, mock me]
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