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 before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

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

The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan, Abinadab and Malchi-shua, 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.

The battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was wounded by 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 Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it.

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

When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died.

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

Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of 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.

When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived 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.

It came about the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on 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.

So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to 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.

They put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon. Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul

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

When all Jabesh-gilead 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.

all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they 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 trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry 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 did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.