WAEC Christian Religious Studies (CRS) 2018 Theory — Question 5

Model answer

1 Samuel 31:1-13. After the Philistines fought the Israelites at Mount Gilboa, Israel suffered a great defeat and fled; many were killed, including Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchishua. As the battle intensified, the Philistine archers hit Saul badly, and fearing capture and mistreatment, Saul asked his armour bearer to kill him; when the armour bearer refused, Saul fell on his own sword and died, and his armour bearer did likewise. The Philistines found Saul's body the next day, cut off his head, stripped his armour, and displayed it in the temple of Ashtaroth and sent messengers throughout Philistia announcing their victory. The valiant men of Jabesh-gilead, however, went by night, recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, burned them, buried the remains under a tamarisk tree, and fasted seven days in mourning.