1 Samuel 31
Saul having lost his army, and his sons slain, he and his armourbearer kill themselves.
1 Samuel 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. 1 Samuel 31:2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul's sons. 1 Samuel 31:3 And the battle was severe against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was severely wounded by the archers. 1 Samuel 31:4 Then said Saul to his armor-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through with it; lest these uncircumcised should come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not; for he was exceedingly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. 1 Samuel 31:5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. 1 Samuel 31:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, that same day together.
The Philistines possess the forsaken towns of the Israelites.
1 Samuel 31:7 And when the men of Israel that [were] on the other side of the valley, and [they] that [were] on the other side of Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
They triumph over the dead carcases.
1 Samuel 31:8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 1 Samuel 31:9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish [it in] the house of their idols, and among the people. 1 Samuel 31:10 And they put his armor in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
They of Jabesh-gilead, recovering the bodies by night, burn them at Jabesh, and mournfully bury their bones.
1 Samuel 31:11 And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul, 1 Samuel 31:12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 1 Samuel 31:13 And they took their bones, and buried [them] under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
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