10 People who Committed Suicide in the Bible

10 People Who Committed Suicide in the Bible

Suicide is a tragic end that happens commonly in society. Even in biblical times, there are a number of people who committed suicide. It should be noted that the act of suicide is morally condemned in the bible and often, we are called to talk to God about our struggles. However, in these verses, I can see how these individuals were struggling with various things like grief, fear, and guilt. In this article, I explore the different reasons that caused these Biblical figures to take matters into their own hands.

Through this article, we can connect as a society and understand that suicidal thoughts were part of biblical times and might also be in the years to come. We should become aware of the dark themes that often affect the people we love and care about.

By taking a deeper look at these tragic suicides, I hope to find the humanity in them as well as approach this topic with the intent to share awareness on this subject. It should be noted that taking one’s life is never condoned but we should take the time to understand the context behind these dark themes.

Here are the10 People Who Committed Suicide in the Bible;

1. King Saul, 1 Samuel 31:4

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This is among the final verses of the book of 1 Samuel. King Saul was a man who had been chosen by God to lead Israel. However, due to his actions and decisions, God chose another king to lead Israel. The verses read, “Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, ‘Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and abuse me.’ But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.”

In the battle against the Philistines, Saul’s army was deafted. Seeing that the battle was lost, Saul asked his armor-bearer to kill him. Saul’s death is a tragic end to a troubled life. 

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2. Saul’s Armor-bearer, 1 Sam 31:5

The passage says, “And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him.” Through this verse, the armor-bearer’s loyalty and devotion to Saul can be seen in his decision to follow Saul in death. It also highlights the tragic consequences of Saul’s actions. It is a significant verse because it shows how Saul’s actions led to a devastating outcome for himself and those close to him.

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3. King Saul’s Three Sons, 1 Samuel 31:6

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The verse says, “So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, that same day together.” Even though the verse doesn’t explain the deaths of King Saul’s sons, Christian scholars believe that his sons killed themselves before Saul. The verse shows the behavior and decisions Saul made led to the death of everyone around him including his own sons.

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4. The Woman of Tekoa, 2 Samuel 14:5-7

The passage reads, “The King asked her, ‘What is troubling you?’ She said, ‘Your servant is a widow; my husband is dead. I your servant had two sons, and they got into a fight with each other in the field. There was no one to separate them, and one of them struck his brother and killed him. Then the whole clan confronted your servant and demanded, ‘Give up the one who struck down his brother. Let us kill him in revenge for the death of his brother and wipe out his name from his family.’ So your servant said, ‘I am afraid of these men, for they will overwhelm me and my sons. They will wipe out my family name from the face of the earth.'”

These verses show how the widow was pleading with the king for justice after one of her sons killed the other. The widow is begging the king to intervene in order to protect her family.

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5. Ahithopel, 2 Sam 17:23

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It says, “When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and then hanged himself. So, he died and was buried in his father’s tomb.” Ahithopel was a shrewd counselor to King Absalom in his rebellion against his father, King David.

Ahithopel’s advice was known for its cunning and effectiveness, but in this instance, his counsel was rejected by Abasalom and his advisors. However, when his advice was disregarded, he was unable to bear the humiliation of disregarded advice. Through his story, we see the fragility of human pride as well as the consequences of unchecked ambition.

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6. Abimelech, Judges 9:54

It is a passage that describes the death of Abimelech, the king of Israel. There was a battle with the Shechemites which is a tribe of Israel. However, as Abimelech was dying, he called his armor-bearer to him and said, “Draw your Sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me. ‘A woman killed him.‘” The armor-bearer ran him through with his sword, and he died.

Abimelech asked his armor-bearer to kill him because he didn’t want to be remembered as a man who was killed by a woman. It should be noted that in ancient Israel, it was considered shameful for a man to be killed by a woman. He was willing to die in the hands of his armor-bearer rather than at the hands of a woman.

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7. Zimri, 1 Kings 16:18

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It says, ” When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and burned the royal palace over himself and died.”The verse describes the tragic end of King Zimri of Israel. Zimri had seized the thrown after he assassinated King Elah. However, the reign was short-lived the commander of the Israelite army, Omri, laid siege to Tirzah. Zimri realized that he was doomed and that we faced capture as well as execution. Zimri decided to set the royal palace on fire and died in the flames. 

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8. Samson, Judges 16:30

It is a verse that describes the final act of Samson, an Israelite judge who possessed superhuman strength. The verse says, “Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.” The verse marks the tragic end of Samson’s life.

Samson wanted his final act to be revenge on the Philistines because they had tricked him, blinded him, and humiliated him. Samson was married to a Philistine woman, Delilah, who was sent to learn about his immense strength. He trusted her and told her everything which led to his downfall.

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9. Judas Iscariot, Matthew 27:5

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The verse says, “So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.” This shows the suicide of Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. In the verse, judas was overcome with remorse and returned the money to the chief priests and elders. However, they refused it, and Judas threw it down in the temple and hanged himself. Matthew 27:5 is a reminder of the tragic consequences of sin and the power of guilt. We can also see how Jesus’ death affected Judas Iscariot. 

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10. A Philippian jailer, Acts 16:27-28

The passage says, “The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself! We are all here!’ The jailer called for lights, sprang in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They replied ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.”

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These verses describe the conversion of the Philippian Jailer and his household. The Jailer was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. However, Paul and Silas stopped him and told him that they were all there. He was so amazed by this that he asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved.