Chapter 31

Now the Philistines fought¹² against Israel: and the men of Israel fled⁴ from before the Philistines, and fell down⁴ slain in mount Gilboa.

And the Philistines followed hard⁵⁵ upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew⁵⁵ Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.

And the battle went sore⁴ against Saul, and the archers^{56 582 7198} hit⁴ him; and he was sore wounded⁴ of the archers.⁵⁶

Then said⁴ Saul unto his armourbearer,^{6 3627} Draw³ thy sword, and thrust me through³ therewith; lest these uncircumcised come⁴ and thrust me through,¹ and abuse⁹⁸ me. But his armourbearer^{6 3627} would¹ not; for he was sore afraid.¹ Therefore Saul took⁴ a sword, and fell⁴ upon it.

And when his armourbearer^{6 3627} saw⁴ that Saul was dead,¹ he fell⁴ likewise upon his sword, and died⁴ with him.

So Saul died,⁴ and his three sons, and his armourbearer,^{6 3627} and all his men, that same day together.

And when the men of Israel that [were] on the other side of the valley, and [they] that [were] on the other side Jordan, saw⁴ that the men of Israel fled,¹ and that Saul and his sons were dead,¹ they forsook⁴ the cities, and fled;⁴ and the Philistines came⁴ and dwelt⁴ in them.

And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came⁴ to strip¹⁵ the slain, that they found⁴ Saul and his three sons fallen⁶ in mount Gilboa.

And they cut off⁴ his head, and stripped off⁵⁵ his armour, and sent¹⁷ into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish¹⁵ [it in] the house of their idols, and among the people.

And they put⁴ his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: ^{6252 1045} and they fastened¹ his body to the wall of Bethshan.

And when the inhabitants⁶ of Jabeshgilead ¹⁵⁶⁸ heard⁴ of that which the Philistines had done¹ to Saul;

All the valiant men arose,⁴ and went⁴ all night, and took⁴ the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came⁴ to Jabesh, and burnt⁴ them there.

And they took⁴ their bones, and buried⁴ [them] under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted⁴ seven days.