Bible Contradictions: How Did Saul Die?

1. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after
their own lusts... For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God
the heavens were of old,
-2 Peter 3:3-5
Skeptic's Argument:
One who scoffs at God's Word.
Skeptics will often declare that the Bible contains three incompatible records of Saul’s death.
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.
-1 Samuel 31:4
1 Samuel 31 suggests that Saul killed himself with a sword, but in 2 Samuel 1, an Amalekite man
recounts that he was the one that killed Saul:
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.
-2 Samuel 1:10
Furthermore, the Bible states in 2 Samuel 21 that Saul was slain by the Philistines:
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:
-2 Samuel 21:12
These are obvious contradictions, therefore the Bible is wrong.

2. The Bible-ha ting scoffers are qu ick to point out what they CLAIM are contradictions in the Word
of God. These skeptics do not take the Word of God SERIOUSLY; and are too pr ideful to actually
STUDY God’s Word for themselves.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is
not in all his thoughts.
-Psalm 10:4
Unfortunately, it seems as though many Christians have a hard time rebuking and reproving the Bible-
hating scoffers. Many Christians are simply unprepared to give an immediate answer to the scoffers; as
they haven’t properly studied the Word of God.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
-2 Timothy 2:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and
fear:
-1 Peter 3:15
There are even some “Christians” out there that are willing to compromise their foundation, simply to
appease the scoffers. These Laodiceans would rather compromise with the scoffers, than rightly divide
the Word of Truth, because it’s easier for them to compromise. When it comes to Saul’s death; most of
these Laodiceans will assert that the Amalekite man was LYING when he gave his account to David.
Below are some examples of this:
“The probability is that the young Amalekite lied.”
La Vista Church of Christ, (2014, July 27). LVanswers. Retrieved from La Vista Church of Christ:
http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVanswers/2007/08-30.html
“It would not be unusual for a Bible writer to record a story that was told at the time as the
truth when, in fact, it was a lie... …The point is, just because the Amalekite mercenary claimed
to have killed King Saul does not mean that he was telling the truth when he made such a
claim.”

Thompson, B. (2014, July 27). King Saul--Killed by a Philistine and an Amalekite? Retrieved from Apologetics Press:
http://www.apologeticspress.org/ApPubPage.aspx?pub=1&issue=488&article=127
“The Bible here is merely reporting a lie told by an Amalekite and his judgment… …it must be
concluded that the Amalekite was lying in order to gain the praise of David and others.”
Nally, J. R. (2014, July 27). Which version of King Saul's death is correct? Retrieved from Third Millenium:
http://old.thirdmill.org/answers/answer.asp/file/99742.qna/category/ot/page/questions/site/iiim
Bible-Reader's Answer:
One who takes God's Word seriously.

3. “I think that the explanation for the discrepancy can be as simple as saying that the Amalekite
lied.”
Metro Bible Blog, (2014, July 27). How did Saul die? (two differing accounts). Retrieved from Metro Bible Blog:
http://metrobibleblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/how-did-saul-die-two-differing-accounts/
“By telling lies in the hope of gaining a reward the Amalekite brought about his own death.”
This Is Your Bible, (2014, July 27). How did Saul die? Retrieved from This Is Your Bible:
https://www.thisisyourbible.com/index.php?page=questions&task=show&mediaid=2831
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know
thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So
then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of
my mouth.
-Revelation 3:14- 16
These Laodiceans are claiming that the Amalekite man lied; which is completely unbiblical. If
the Amalekite man was lying, the Bible would have said so. God does not justify lies.
Let's take a look at what the Bible says about Saul's death; 1 Samuel 31:1-4 says:
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before
the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. And the Philistines followed
hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and
Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons. And the battle went sore against Saul, and
the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers. 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.
-1 Samuel 31:1-4
At this point in time, Saul had been wounded by the Philistine
archers; and it was very difficult for him to continue fleeing. Saul
knew that he had already lost the battle, and he did not want to
end up being tortured and executed by Philistine soldiers.
Because of this, Saul asked his armourbearer to finish him off.
His armourbearer, however, was too afraid. When Saul realized
that his armourbearer would not comply with his request, Saul
took a sword from off of the battlefield, and fell upon it in an
attempt to finish himself off. It is important to note that people
can actually survive for quite a while after being stabbed in the
torso with a sword. Depending on where they were stabbed;
people can continue to live for minutes, or even hours before
they die. Most skeptics will make the false assumption that Saul
had died from his self-inflicted stab wound; but as we will see in
the next section, it was the Amalekite man that finished Saul off.

4. And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount
Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen
followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called
unto me. And I answered, Here am I. And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I
answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon
me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
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.
-2 Samuel 1:6- 10
The Amalekite man stated that the Philistines had been chasing after Saul
(which is exactly what the first had account said); and that Saul had
leaned on his spear. It certainly makes sense that Saul would lean on his
spear; as he had been wounded by the Philistine archers. Saul would have
needed to lean on his spear in order to remain standing (much in the way
that someone would support themselves with a cane or walking stick). By
the time the Amalekite man had weaved his way through the battlefield,
Saul was ALREADY fallen on his sword. When the Amalekite man had
arrived at Saul’s location, Saul asked the Amalekite man to stand upon
him and slay him. The Amalekite man looked at Saul's wounds, and
realized that Saul would not be able to continue living with the injuries
that he had suffered. Th e Amalekite man then stood upon Saul, and
finished him off. When Saul’s armourbearer saw that Saul was dead; he
decided to fall upon his sword like Saul did, and eventually he died.
And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his
sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer,
and all his men, that same day together.
-1 Samuel 31:5-6
Saul, and his three sons, and all his men; collectively represented Saul on the battlefield. The
Philistines’ overall mission was to make sure that neither Saul, nor his three sons, nor any of his men,
would leave the battlefield alive; and they succeeded. As such, the Philistines are justifiably recognized
as having slain Saul.
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:
-2 Samuel 21:12
All three passages support each other. All three are correct. There is no contradiction here.
In 2 Samuel 1:6- 10, the Amalekite man gives his report to David: