Saul’s Overthrow and Death (1 Samuel 31:1–6; 2 Samuel 1:1–16)
1 CPDV Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from the Philistines, and they fell down wounded on 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 CPDV And when the Philistines had drawn near, pursuing Saul and his sons, they struck down 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 CPDV And the battle grew heavy against Saul. And the archers found him, and they wounded him with arrows. BSB BSB: When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him.
4 CPDV And Saul said to his armor bearer: “Unsheathe your sword and kill me. Otherwise, these uncircumcised men may arrive and mock me.” But his armor bearer was not willing, having been struck with fear. And so, Saul took hold of his sword, and he fell upon 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 CPDV And when his armor bearer had seen this, specifically, that Saul was dead, he now fell on his sword also, and he died. BSB BSB: When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died.
6 CPDV Therefore, Saul died, and his three sons passed away, and his entire house fell, 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 CPDV And when the men of Israel who were living in the plains had seen this, they fled. And since Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and were dispersed, here and there. And the Philistines arrived and lived among 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 CPDV Then, on the next day, when the Philistines were taking away the spoils of the slain, they found Saul and his sons, lying on 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 CPDV And when they had despoiled him, and had cut off his head, and had stripped his armor, they sent these things into their land, so that they would be carried around and displayed in the temples of the 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 CPDV But his armor they consecrated in the shrine of their god, and his head they affixed 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 CPDV When the men of Jabesh Gilead had heard this, specifically, all that the Philistines had done concerning Saul, BSB BSB: When all the people of Jabesh-gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul,
12 CPDV each one of the valiant men rose up, and they took the bodies of Saul and of his sons. And they brought them to Jabesh. And they buried their bones under the oak that was in Jabesh. And they fasted for 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 CPDV for he did not trust in the Lord. Because of this, he caused his death, and he transferred his 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.