1 Samuel 31

(2 Samuel 1:1–16; 1 Chronicles 10:1–6)

1Now the PhilistinesH6430 foughtH3898 against IsraelH3478, and the menH582 of IsraelH3478 fledH5127 beforeH6440 themH6430, and many fellH5307 slainH2491 on MountH2022 GilboaH1533.

2The PhilistinesH6430 hotly pursuedH1692 SaulH7586 and his sonsH1121, and they killedH5221H6430 Saul’sH7586 sonsH1121 JonathanH3083, AbinadabH41, andH853 MalchishuaH4444. 3When the battleH4421 intensifiedH3513 againstH413 SaulH7586, the archersH3384H582H7198 overtook himH4672 and wounded himH2342 criticallyH3966.

4Then SaulH7586 saidH559 to his armor-bearerH5375H3627, “DrawH8025 your swordH2719 and run me throughH1856 with it, orH6435 theseH428 uncircumcised menH6189 will comeH935 and run me throughH1856 and tortureH5953 me!”

But his armor-bearerH5375H3627 was terrifiedH3372H3966 and refusedH3808 to do itH14. So SaulH7586 tookH3947 his own swordH2719 and fellH5307 on itH5921.

5When his armor-bearerH5375H3627 sawH7200 thatH3588 SaulH7586 was deadH4191, heH1931 tooH1571 fellH5307 onH5921 his own swordH2719 and diedH4191 with himH5973.

6So SaulH7586, his threeH7969 sonsH1121, his armor-bearerH5375H3627, andH1571 allH3605 his menH582 diedH4191 togetherH3162 that sameH1931 dayH3117.

The Philistines Possess the Towns

(1 Chronicles 10:7–10)

7When the IsraelitesH582H3478 alongH5676 the valleyH6010 and those on the other sideH5676 of the JordanH3383 sawH7200 thatH3588 the armyH582 of IsraelH3478 had fledH5127 and thatH3588 SaulH7586 and his sonsH1121 had diedH4191, they abandonedH5800 their citiesH5892 and ran awayH5127. So the PhilistinesH6430 cameH935 and occupiedH3427 their cities.

8

The next dayH4283, when the PhilistinesH6430 cameH935 to stripH6584 the deadH2491, they foundH4672 SaulH7586 and his threeH7969 sonsH1121 fallenH5307 on MountH2022 GilboaH1533. 9They cut offH3772 Saul’s headH7218, stripped offH6584 his armorH3627, and sentH7971 messengers throughout the landH776 of the PhilistinesH6430H5439 to proclaim the newsH1319 in the templesH1004 of their idolsH6091 and among their peopleH5971. 10They putH7760 his armorH3627 in the templeH1004 of the AshtorethsH6252 and hungH8628 his bodyH1472 on the wallH2346 of Beth-shanH1052.

Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul

(1 Chronicles 10:11–14)

11When the peopleH3427 of Jabesh-gileadH3003H1568 heardH8085H413 whatH834 the PhilistinesH6430 had doneH6213 to SaulH7586, 12allH3605 their menH376 of valorH2428 set outH6965, journeyedH1980 allH3605 nightH3915, and retrievedH3947 the bodiesH1472 of SaulH7586 and his sonsH1121 from the wallH2346 of Beth-shanH1052.

When they arrivedH935 at JabeshH3003, they burnedH8313 the bodies thereH8033. 13Then they tookH3947 their bonesH6106 and buried themH6912 underH8478 the tamarisk treeH815 in JabeshH3003, and they fastedH6684 sevenH7651 daysH3117.