1 Samuel 31
1 Meanwhile the Philistines had attacked Israel, and the Israelite army ran away from them, and many were killed on Mount Gilboa.
Now, as, the Philistines, were fighting against Israel, the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain, in Mount Gilboa.
2 The Philistines chased down Saul and his sons, killing Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons, —and the Philistines smote Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, sons of Saul.
3 The fighting became very intense around Saul, and the arrows of the Philistine archers found their target, wounding Saul very badly.
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers discovered him, —and he was terrified at the archers.
4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Take your sword and kill me, or these heathen men will come and kill and torture me!” But the armor-bearer didn't want to do it because he was too afraid. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
Then said Saul to his armour-bearer—Draw thy sword and pierce me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come, and pierce me through, and abuse me. But his armour-bearer was not willing, for he was sore afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell thereon.
5 When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his own sword and died with him.
And, when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also, fell upon his sword, and died with him.
6 Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all the men with him, died the same day.
Thus died Saul, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, yea all his men, on that day, together.
7 When the Israelites who lived along the valley and those on the other side of the Jordan realized that the Israelite army had run away, and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and they also ran away. So the Philistines came and took them over.
And, when the men of Israel who were across the vale, and who were across the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled, and the Philistines entered, and took up their abode therein.
8 The next day, when the Philistines went to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons lying 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 three sons, lying prostrate in Mount Gilboa.
9 They cut off Saul's head, stripped him of his armor, and sent messengers throughout the country of the Philistines to announce the news in the temples of their idols and to their people.
So they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, —and sent throughout the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and unto the people.
10 They placed his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and nailed his body to the town wall of Beth-shan.
And they put his armour in a house of Ashtoreths, —and, his dead body, fastened they on the wall of Beth-shan.
11 However, when the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,
And, when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him, what the Philistines had done unto Saul,
12 all their strong warriors set out, traveled all night, and took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they got back to Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.
then arose all the men of valour, and journeyed all the night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of Beth-shan, —and came to Jabesh, and burned them there;
13 Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.
and took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, —and fasted seven days.
