^aNow the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and ^1aAbinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 And the battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers ¹hit him; and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was not willing, for he was greatly afraid. ^aSo Saul took his sword and fell on it. 5 Then his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, so he also fell on his sword and died. 6 ^aThus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.

7 Then all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.

8 Now it happened on the next day, that the Philistines came to strip the slain, and they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 ^aSo they stripped him and took his head and his weapons and sent them all around the land of the Philistines, to proclaim the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 And they placed his weapons in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.

11 Then all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 ^aso all the valiant men arose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

13 ^aThus Saul died for his unfaithfulness, which he committed against Yahweh, because of the word of Yahweh which he did not keep; and also ^bbecause he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, 14 and did not inquire of Yahweh. Therefore He put him to death and ^aturned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.

^aNow the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from the Philistines but fell fatally wounded on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines also overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines ¹killed Jonathan, ^2aAbinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle became severe against Saul, and the archers found him; and he was wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised Philistines will come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. ^aSo Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died. 6 ^aSo Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.

7 When all the people of Israel who were in the valley saw that they 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 It came about the next day, when the Philistines came to strip those killed, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 ^aSo they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the house of their gods and ¹impaled his head in the house of Dagon.

11 When all Jabesh-gilead heard everything that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 ^aall the valiant men got up and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh; and they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.

13 ^aSo Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the LORD which he did not keep; and also ^bbecause he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of her, 14 and did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore He killed him and ^aturned the kingdom over to David, the son of Jesse.