With the knowledge that God was displeased with him and had foretold him that he and his sons would not survive the battle, Saul and his troops faced the Philistines. The battle was a disaster for the Israelites. The Israelites fled from the Philistines and the Philistines targeted Saul and his sons.
The dead bodies of Saul and his sons were fastened to a wall in the Philistine town of Beth Shan as a public display against the Israelites. [Reflection based on the Bible Reference – 1 Samuel 31:1-13]