I Chronicles 10:13

Saul died for his transgression - See the concluding observations on the first book of Samuel (Sa1 31:13 (note)).

Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord--in having spared the king of the Amalekites and taken the flocks of the people as spoils [Sa1 15:9], as well as in having consulted a pythoness [Sa1 28:7]. Both of these acts were great sins--the first as a violation of God's express and positive command [Sa1 15:3], and the second as contrary to a well-known statute of the kingdom (Lev 19:31).

And inquired not of the Lord,.... For though he did inquire in some sense in an external, careless, and hypocritical manner, yet not done seriously, sincerely, and heartily, nor with constancy; it was accounted as if he inquired not at all, Sa1 28:6 the Targum adds another reason of his death, because he killed the priests of Nob; but that is not in the text: therefore he slew him; or suffered him to be slain: and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse; translated the kingdom of Israel out of Saul's family, upon his death, into Jesse's, even unto David; for the sake of which observation this short account is given of the last end of Saul. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 11

And inquired not of the Lord,.... For though he did inquire in some sense in an external, careless, and hypocritical manner, yet not done seriously, sincerely, and heartily, nor with constancy; it was accounted as if he inquired not at all, Sa1 28:6 the Targum adds another reason of his death, because he killed the priests of Nob; but that is not in the text: therefore he slew him; or suffered him to be slain: and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse; translated the kingdom of Israel out of Saul's family, upon his death, into Jesse's, even unto David; for the sake of which observation this short account is given of the last end of Saul. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 11

The design of Ezra, in these books of the Chronicles, was to preserve the records of the house of David, which, though much sunk and lessened in a common eye by the captivity, yet grew more and more illustrious in the eyes of those that lived by faith by the nearer approach of the Son of David. And therefore he repeats, not the history of Saul's reign, but only of his death, by which way was made for David to the throne. In this chapter we have, I. The fatal rout which the Philistines gave to Saul's army, and the fatal stroke which he gave himself (Ch1 10:1-7). II. The Philistines' triumph therein (Ch1 10:8-10). III. The respect which the men of Jabesh-Gilead showed the royal corpse (Ch1 10:11, Ch1 10:12). IV. The reason of Saul's rejection (Ch1 10:13, Ch1 10:14).