Saul’s Overthrow and Death (1 Samuel 31:1–6; 2 Samuel 1:1–16)
1 UEB Now the Philistines fought against Israel. Every man of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down dead 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 UEB The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his son. The Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, his sons. BSB BSB: The Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed Saul’s sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.
3 UEB The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers overtook him, and they wounded him. BSB BSB: When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him.
4 UEB Then said Saul to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it. Otherwise, these uncircumcised will come and abuse me." But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. So Saul took his own 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 UEB When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword and died. BSB BSB: When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died.
6 UEB So Saul died, and his three sons, so all his household members 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 UEB When every man of Israel in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. Then the Philistines came and lived 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 UEB It came about on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, that they found Saul and his sons fallen 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 UEB They stripped him and took his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout Philistia to carry the news 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 UEB They put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his head to 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 UEB When all Jabesh Gilead heard of 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 UEB all the fighting men went and took away the body of Saul and those of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. They 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 UEB He did not seek guidance from Yahweh, so Yahweh killed him and turned over the kingdom to David 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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