In ancient times, when war broke out, kings normally join their armies to match out and fight against their enemies. Sometimes, they returned home with victory; sometimes, they returned home with defeat; sometimes, they returned home safe and sound; sometimes, they returned with serious injuries; and sometimes, they never returned but died on the battlefield. Here are some biblical examples of kings who died in battle:
King Ahab dies in battle
War broke out between Israel and Syria. And King Ahab made an alliance with King Jehoshaphat to go to battle. Ahab the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.
Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” As soon as the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; God drew them away from him. For as soon as the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.
But one of the Syrians drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” And the battle continued that day, and the king of Israel was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians until evening. Then at sunset, he died. (2 Chronicles 18:28-34)
King Josiah dies in battle
In the course of time, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on River Euphrates, and King Josiah of Judah mustered his army to face him in battle. But Neco sent envoys to warn King Josiah, saying, “What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.”
Nevertheless, King Josiah did not turn away from him but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God but came to fight against the Egyptians in the plain of Megiddo. And the Egyptian archers shot King Josiah randomly. And the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am badly wounded.” So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot. But he died at Megiddo. And his servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo and brought him to Jerusalem. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for King Josiah. (2 Chronicles 35:20–24, 2 Kings 23:28-30)
King Saul dies in battle
In the days when Saul was the king of Israel, many wars broke out between the Israelites and the Philistines one of which ended Saul’s life. In that particular war, the Philistines fought hard against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. The Philistines chased and overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. The Philistine archers shot arrows at King Saul and wounded him badly.
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 mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer could not do it, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.
Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them. (1 Samuel 31:17)