1Sa 31:7 | MHM | STEP | v. 7 : When the Israelites living nearby saw that the army had run away and Saul was dead, they left their towns and fled. The Philistines then took over those towns . Saul’s sins not only brought trouble on himself but on his nation. The people had once rejected God as their king, wanting a human king instead. Now they saw the sad results of that choice, just as the prophet Samuel had warned (1 Samuel 12:25 ). Later, God reminded Israel through the prophet Hosea: I gave you a king in my anger and took him away in my wrath (Hosea 13:10-11 ).

‏ 1 Samuel 31:7

v. 7: When the Israelites living nearby saw that the army had run away and Saul was dead, they left their towns and fled. The Philistines then took over those towns . Saul’s sins not only brought trouble on himself but on his nation. The people had once rejected God as their king, wanting a human king instead. Now they saw the sad results of that choice, just as the prophet Samuel had warned (1 Samuel 12:25 ^a). Later, God reminded Israel through the prophet Hosea: I gave you a king in my anger and took him away in my wrath (Hosea 13:10-11 ^b).