There are seven people who are considered to have committed suicide in the Bible. Of these seven instances of suicide in the Bible, six are found in the Old Testament, and only one in the New Testament.
The Seven People Who Committed Suicide In The Bible
Abimelech (Judges 9:53-54)
Abimelech’s skull was crushed from a millstone that was dropped on his head by a women. Afterwards, he quickly said to his young armor bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!” The young man ran him through with his sword, and he died.
Samson (Judges 16:28-30)
Samson prayed for God to strengthen him one last time so he could get revenge on the Philistines for gouging out his eyes. After saying, “Let me die with the Philistines”, Samson pushed against the two central pillars that was supporting the temple. This caused the temple to crashed down on the Philistine rulers and all the people, killing everyone including himself. It should be noted that some view this act of Samson not as suicide, but as him sacrificing his life as a martyr in destroying the enemy of his people.
King Saul and his Armor-Bearer (1 Samuel 31:3-5)
After being badly wounded during battle with the Philistines, King Saul wanted his armor bearer to take his sword and kill him before the pagan Philistines had a chance to run the king through and taunt and torture him. His armor bearer was afraid and would not do it, so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he committed suicide as well by falling on his own sword.
Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23)
When Ahithophel realized that his advice to Absolom had not been followed, he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and committed suicide by hanging himself.
Zimri (1 Kings 16:18)
When Zimri saw that the city had been taken, he went into the citadel of the king’s palace and burned it down around himself and died in the flames.
Judas (Mathew 27:5)
Probably the most well known suicide in the Bible is also the only suicide recorded in the New Testament. After betraying Jesus, Judas threw the blood money into the temple, went away, and hanged himself.
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