Saul Falls on His Sword: 31:1–3 The scene moves from David’s successful reclamation of captives and property in the south to the major battle taking place in the north. There was no parallel success for the main Israelite army. Perhaps as a result of Saul’s lack of conviction (ch. 28) lessening their confidence, the Israelite army was unable to repel the Philistine attack. Most fled and many were killed. Saul’s family was targeted, following the maxim that an army without leaders is easier to defeat and harder to rebuild. Three of Saul’s sons, including Jonathan, were killed in the fighting. Whatever Saul’s mental state, he threw himself into the attack as far as he was able; there is no question of cowardice. His great fear had been not of the battle but of losing any sense of God’s suppo…