This section marks the change of form in the Books of Chronicles from a list-based text to a more narrative description based on the historical documents such as the
books of Samuel and the
books of Kings, and additional materials to provide information on the legitimate Davidic kingdom. It begins with
Saul's downfall to theologically link the whole exposition with the Babylonian Exile at the end.
Verse 6 :
So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together. • Cross reference: • "And all his house": this phrase is used instead of the words 'and his armor-bearer and all his men that same day' in to underline the fact that with Saul's death, his kingdom basically ended. The episode of Ishbaal's brief rule in is considered irrelevant to the Chronicler, although the name is mentioned in the genealogy of Saul (; ).
Verse 10 :
And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. • Cross reference: According to Saul's armour was placed in the temple of
Ashtaroth (Astarte) and his body fastened to the walls of
Beth-shan. The Chronicler avoids naming foreign gods, with a few exceptions, such as Dagon. • "
Dagon": god of grain, one of the principal deities of the
Philistines. The statue of Dagon lost its head and hands when the Philistines placed the ark of YHWH in a temple of Dagon (). The fate of Saul was also similar to that of
Goliath (
1 Samuel 17). == Burial of Saul (10:11–14)==