1 N ow the many Philistines fought against Israel. The men of Israel ran away from the Philistines, and were killed on Mount Gilboa.

Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

2 T he Philistines went after Saul and his sons. And they killed Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons.

And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

3 T he battle was hard for Saul. Those who fought with the bow found him, and hurt him with an arrow.

And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.

4 T hen Saul said to the one who carried his battle-clothes, “Take your sword and kill me with it. Or these men who have not gone through our religious act will come and make fun of me.” But the one who carried his battle-clothes would not do it. For he was very afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.

Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

5 W hen the one who carried his battle-clothes saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword and died also.

And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.

6 S o Saul died with his three sons. All those of his house died together.

So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.

7 A ll the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had run away and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they left their cities and ran away. Then the Philistines came and lived in their cities.

And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8 W hen the Philistines came the next day to take what had belonged to the dead, they found Saul and his sons dead on Mount Gilboa.

And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

9 S o they took his clothes, his head, and his battle-clothes. And they sent men around the land of the Philistines to take the good news to their false gods and to the people.

And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.

10 T hey put Saul’s battle-clothes in the house of their gods. And they put his head in the house of Dagon.

And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

11 A ll the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul.

And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

12 S o all the powerful soldiers went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons. They brought them to Jabesh and buried their bones under the oak tree there. Then they went without food for seven days.

They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

13 S o Saul died for his sin against the Lord, because he did not keep the Word of the Lord. He had asked a woman who spoke with spirits what he should do.

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;

14 H e did not ask the Lord. So the Lord killed him, and gave the nation to David the son of Jesse.

And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.