1 Samuel 31
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down dead on Mount Gilboa.
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.
The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons. The Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, his sons.
3 And the battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was grievously wounded by the archers.
The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers overtook him. He was in severe pain because of them.
4 Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through with it; lest these uncircumcised should come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was exceedingly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon 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 very afraid. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
So Saul died, his three sons, and his armor bearer—these men all died together that same day.
7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side of Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.
8 And it came to pass on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
It came about on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent them around the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent messengers into the land of the Philistines throughout to carry the news to their idols' temples and to the people.
10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.
They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the city wall of Beth Shan.
11 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
When the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
all the fighting men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan. They went to Jabesh and burned them there.
13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.
