Saul’s Overthrow and Death (1 Samuel 31:1–6; 2 Samuel 1:1–16)
1 AKJV Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. BSB BSB: Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
2 AKJV And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. BSB BSB: The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
3 AKJV And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers. BSB BSB: When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him.
4 AKJV 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. So Saul took a sword, and fell on it. BSB BSB: Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
5 AKJV And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died. BSB BSB: When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died.
6 AKJV So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together. BSB BSB: So Saul died together with his three sons and all his house.
The Philistines Possess the Towns (1 Samuel 31:7–10)
7 AKJV And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelled in them. BSB BSB: When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their cities and ran away. So the Philistines came and occupied their cities.
8 AKJV And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa. BSB BSB: The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.
9 AKJV And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings to their idols, and to the people. BSB BSB: They stripped Saul, cut off his head, took his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people.
10 AKJV And they put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. BSB BSB: They put his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon.
Jabesh-gilead’s Tribute to Saul (1 Samuel 31:11–13)
11 AKJV And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, BSB BSB: When all the people of Jabesh-gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 AKJV They arose, all the valiant men, 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. BSB BSB: all their men of valor set out and retrieved the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
14 AKJV And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse. BSB BSB: and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
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