Location
Overview
Mount Gilboa rises on the south-eastern edge of the Jezreel Valley. It is the place of Israel's great defeat and the death of its first king.
The death of Saul and Jonathan
The Philistines fought Israel on Gilboa; Saul's sons, including Jonathan, were slain, and Saul, badly wounded, fell on his own sword rather than be taken (1 Samuel 31:1–6).
David's lament
When David heard, he sang his great elegy: "The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places... Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain upon you... how are the mighty fallen!" (2 Samuel 1:19–27).
The bodies recovered
The Philistines hung the bodies on the wall of Beth-shean, but the men of Jabesh-gilead recovered and honoured them (1 Samuel 31:10–13).
Events Here
Saul and his sons die in battle on Mount Gilboa
Scripture References
8 verses1 Samuel3 verses
1 Samuel 28:4
And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
1 Samuel 31:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. slain: or, wounded
1 Samuel 31:8
And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
2 Samuel3 verses
2 Samuel 1:6
And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
2 Samuel 1:21
Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
2 Samuel 21:12
And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
1 Chronicles2 verses
1 Chronicles 10:1
Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. slain: or, wounded
1 Chronicles 10:8
And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
Archaeology & History
Mount Gilboa is a limestone ridge overlooking the Jezreel and Beth-shean valleys, commanding the eastern approaches to the great plain. Its slopes, dry in the rainless season David cursed, are today famous for their spring wildflowers — including the Gilboa iris.
People who appear here
Frequently asked about Mount Gilboa
Where is Mount Gilboa today?
Today, Mount Gilboa corresponds to Mount Gilboa (Har Gilboa), Israel.
What happened at Mount Gilboa in the Bible?
Key biblical events at Mount Gilboa include saul and his sons die in battle on mount gilboa.
Where is Mount Gilboa first mentioned in the Bible?
Mount Gilboa is first mentioned in 1 Samuel 28:4.
How often is Mount Gilboa mentioned in the Bible?
Mount Gilboa is mentioned in 8 verses across 3 books: 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles.
What happened on Mount Gilboa?
King Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, were defeated and killed by the Philistines there; Saul fell on his own sword. David mourned them in a famous lament.
Where is Mount Gilboa?
On the south-eastern edge of the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel, overlooking the Beth-shean valley.