⁴ So the Philistines gathered together and came and camped ^(A)in Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped in ^(B)Gilboa.

The Death of Saul and His Sons

31 ^(A)Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain ^(B)on Mount Gilboa. ² And the Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons; and the Philistines struck down ^(C)Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. ^3 (D)And the battle became heavy against Saul, and the archers ^[a]hit him; and he was badly wounded by the archers. ^4 (E)Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, lest ^(F)these uncircumcised come and pierce me through and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was not willing, for he was greatly afraid. ^(G)So Saul took his sword and fell on it. ⁵ Then his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, so he also fell on his sword and died with him. ⁶ Thus Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men on that day together.

⁴ Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was not willing, for he was greatly afraid. ^(A)So Saul took his sword and fell on it. ⁵ Then his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, so he also fell on his sword and died. ^6 (B)Thus Saul died with his three sons, and all those of his house died together.

⁷ Then all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead. So they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.

⁸ Now it happened on the next day, that the Philistines came to strip the slain, and they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ^9 (C)So they stripped him and took his head and his weapons and sent them all around the land of the Philistines, to proclaim the good news to their idols and to the people. ¹⁰ And they placed his weapons in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.