1Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.2The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.3The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him.4Saul said to his armour-bearer, ‘Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and abuse me.’ But his armour-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.5When the armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died.6So Saul and his three sons died, and all his house died together.7When all the Israelites in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them.8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.9They stripped him and took his head and his armour, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news among their idols and their people.10They put his armour in the temple of their gods and hung up his head in the temple of Dagon.11When all the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,12all their valiant men went and took the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the great tree in Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.13Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance,14and did not enquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
1 Chronicles 10
English Standard Version
The Death of Saul and His Sons
1Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. (1Sa 31:1)2And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.3The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was wounded by the archers.4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.5And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died.6Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together.7And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army[1] had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them.8The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.9And they stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people.10And they put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.11But when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,12all 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.13So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. (1Sa 13:13; 1Sa 15:23; 1Sa 28:7)14He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. (1Sa 15:28; 1Sa 28:6; 2Sa 3:9; 1Ch 12:23)