שמואל א, פרק ל״א, פסוק ח׳

The aftermath of a fierce military conflict often conceals the full extent of the tragedy until the fighting completely stops. Following the clash on Mount Gilboa, the battlefield lay quiet until the victorious forces returned the next morning to survey the devastation. The Philistines came back to the area to strip the fallen soldiers of their clothing [מצודת ציון]. It was a standard practice in ancient warfare to loot the dead, gathering valuable items such as precious stones, jewelry, and weapons [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. As they moved through the field plundering the bodies, they stumbled upon Saul and his three sons lying lifeless on the ground [מצודת ציון].

The delay in discovering the fallen king was a direct result of the chaotic nature of the combat. The fighting had taken place across multiple locations simultaneously, meaning the Philistines likely had no idea that Saul was dead during the actual battle. When the defensive lines protecting Saul finally collapsed and he died, the advancing Philistine warriors did not pause to inspect or identify the bodies. They simply left the corpses behind and pressed forward with their attack. It was only the following day, when they had the opportunity to systematically gather the spoils of war, that they recognized the king and his sons among the casualties [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Upon finding Saul, the Philistines realized that he had taken his own life. Despite knowing the truth, they chose to sever his head to boast of their triumph, creating a false narrative that they had killed him with their own hands [חומת אנך]. They then stripped him of his garments and armor, intending to send these trophies back to the land of the Philistines to announce the victory to their gods [אברבנאל].