[1] Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled
from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa. [2] The
Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the
Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of
Saul. [3] The battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him;
and he was distressed by reason of the archers. [4] Then said Saul to his
armor-bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these
uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not; for he was
sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it. [5] When his
armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and
died. [6] So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died
together. [7] When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that
they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities,
and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them. [8] It happened on
the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found
Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. [9] They stripped him, and took
his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round
about, to carry the news to their idols, and to the people. [10] They put
his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of
Dagon. [11] When all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done
to Saul, [12] all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul,
and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their
bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. [13] So Saul died for
his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of the word of
Yahweh, which he didn`t keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who
had a familiar spirit, to inquire [thereby], [14] and didn`t inquire of
Yahweh: therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of
Jesse.
