Saul trying to kill David in a fit of rage Engraving of a painting attributed to Ambrosius Francken The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Saul's Jealousy of David
David's popularity with the army was becoming a source of real jealousy for Saul, who tried several times to get David to lead the troops into battle, hoping he would be killed. He told his son Jonathan and all his attendants to kill David. But Jonathan and David had become close friends, and Jonathan warned David every time Saul tried to kill him.
One day an evil spirit sent from the LORD came upon Saul as he was sitting in his palace with a spear in his hand. While David was playing the harp, Saul hurled the spear at David trying to pin him to the wall, but he made good his escape and went on the run (1Samuel 19:9-10)
David On The Run From Saul
For the following few years David was on the run from Saul, who continued to hunt him down to kill him. On two occasions David had the opportunity to kill Saul but said:
" How can I lay a hand on the LORD's anointed? " And each time he presented himself to Saul and showed him he had refrained from killing him.
David's Alliance with the Philistines
Convinced that nothing was going to stop Saul from pursuing him and trying to kill him, David thought the best thing was to escape to the land of the Philistines. He took his six hundred men and went to Gath to stay with Achish, the king of Gath's son. Achish gave David Ziklag as a base and told him that in return he would have to fight with the Philistines if they attacked Israel.
When Samuel died, the Philistines attacked the Israelites at Mount Gilboa. When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Saul Consults The Witch of Endor
Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”
"There is one in Endor,” they said. So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman.
“Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
The woman at first refused because she knew Saul had forbidden consultation with mediums. But after he swore an oath she would not be punished, she asked:
“Whom shall I bring up for you?”
“Bring up Samuel,” he said.
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
The king said to her, “Don't be afraid. What do you see?”
The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”
Saul recognised Samuel, who told him that the LORD had rejected him and his sons because he had failed to destroy the Amalekites.
"The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.”
Saul Dies on Mount Gilboa
Some time later the Philistines attacked the Israelites, who fled to Mount Gilboa and many died there, including Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. Saul himself was wounded critically and asked his armour-bearer to run him through with his sword. But he refused and so Saul took his sword and fell on it. When the armour-bearer saw the king was dead, he too fell on his sword (1 Samuel 31:1-6).