[1] Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel: and the men of Israel
went in flight before the Philistines, falling down wounded in Mount
Gilboa. [2] And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and they put to
death Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. [3] And the
fight was going badly for Saul, and the archers came across him, and he was
wounded by the archers. [4] Then Saul said to the servant who had the care
of his arms, Take out your sword and put it through me, before these men
without circumcision come and make sport of me. But his servant, full of
fear, would not do so. Then Saul took out his sword, and falling on it, put
an end to himself. [5] And when his servant saw that Saul was dead, he did
the same, and was united with him in death. [6] So death overtook Saul and
his three sons and his servant on the same day. [7] And when the men of
Israel across the valley and on the other side of Jordan saw that the army
of Israel was in flight and that Saul and his sons were dead, they came out
of their towns and went in flight; and the Philistines came and took them
for themselves. [8] Now on the day after, when the Philistines came to take
their goods from the dead, they saw Saul and his three sons dead on the
earth in Mount Gilboa. [9] And cutting off his head and taking away his
war-dress, they sent word into the land of the Philistines round about, to
take the news to their gods and to the people. [10] His war-dress they put
in the house of Astarte; and his body was fixed on the wall of Beth-shan.
[11] And when the people of Jabesh-gilead had news of what the Philistines
had done to Saul, [12] All the fighting men got up and, travelling all
night, took Saul's body and the bodies of his sons from the wall of
Beth-shan; and they came to Jabesh and had them burned there. [13] And
their bones they put in the earth under a tree in Jabesh; and for seven
days they took no food.
