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The story of the monarchy abruptly begins with the account of Saul’s death on Mount Gilboa. Perhaps the chronicler assumes that the reader is familiar with the history of Saul’s kingship, including David’s prekingship escapades and Samuel’s ministry. Saul is killed, his dynasty ends, and an exilic situation prevails with Israel’s defeat and the apparent triumph over the Lord. Several observations must be made regarding this story.
This story of defeat, which begins the historical section of the book, parallels the recent experience of Israel. Foreigners routed Israel and killed the king. The Israelites abandoned their cities to enemy occupation. This vignette presents the exilic motifs of defeat and dispossession.
The detail regarding Saul’s head and armor, left out of 1Sa 31:10, emphasizes this exilic situation (vv.8-10). By proclaiming victory to Dagon, the Philistines declare the defeat of Israel’s God. The reader confronts, at the end of Saul’s dynasty, the themes of human despair and apparent divine humiliation, which were part of the Exile.
The chronicler provides the rationale for punishment (vv.13-14). Saul was an unfaithful king because he did not keep the Lord’s word. He consulted a medium for guidance instead of inquiring of the Lord. There was a simple causal relationship between Saul’s sin and God’s punishment on him (death) and on his progeny (loss of kingship). This idea of unfaithfulness (m'l) as the justification for punishment and exile is used seventeen times in nominal and verbal forms in Chronicles (1Ch 2:7; 5:25; 9:1; 10:13-14 [twice]; 2Ch 12:2; 26:16, 18; 28:19 [twice], 22; 29:6, 9; 30:7; 33:19; 36:14 [twice]).
Finally, in the midst of the utter bleakness of Saul’s collapse, the chronicler shows the path to restoration. Human unfaithfulness invites judgment, but there is divine redemption for people willing to seek God’s grace. In this instance, David is crowned and a glorious new age begins. God abandons unfaithful Saul; God is with King David (11:9; 12:18; 14:2, 10, 17).
Recovery is found in other m'l passages. The Israelites defeat Ai in the second attack (Jos 7-8). Rehoboam avoids total destruction through humility (2Ch 12:6-12). Hezekiah brings restoration and reform after a period of apostasy (2Ch 29-31). Manasseh, the most wicked king, repents and is restored (2Ch 33:12-13). Return follows exile (1Ch 9:2; 2Ch 36:15-23).
But restoration does not always follow unfaithfulness. In 1Ch 5:25 the North experiences utter destruction without return. These people are displaced to this day (5:26). In 2Ch 26:19-23 Uzziah remains ill when he angrily disobeys God’s command.