The Death of Saul

The Death of Saul

1 Samuel 31:1-2 Samuel 1:17

Bible Stories

 

1 Samuel 31:1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel. And the men of Israel fled before the face of the Philistines, and they fell down slain on mount Gilboa.

1 Samuel 31:2 And the Philistines rushed upon Saul, and upon his sons, and they struck down Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

1 Samuel 31:3 And the entire weight of the battle was turned against Saul. And the men who were archers pursued him. And he was severely wounded by the archers.

1 Samuel 31:4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and strike me, otherwise these uncircumcised may come and kill me, mocking me.” And his armor bearer was not willing. For he had been struck with an exceedingly great fear. And so, Saul took his own sword, and he fell upon it.

1 Samuel 31:5 And when his armor bearer had seen this, namely, that Saul had died, he too fell upon his sword, and he died with him.

1 Samuel 31:6 Therefore, Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.

1 Samuel 31:7 Then, seeing that the men of the Israelites had fled, and that Saul had died with his sons, the men of Israel who were across the valley or beyond the Jordan abandoned their cities, and they fled. And the Philistines went and lived there.

1 Samuel 31:8 Then, when the next day arrived, the Philistines came, so that they might despoil the slain. And they found Saul and his three sons lying on mount Gilboa.

1 Samuel 31:9 And they cut off the head of Saul. And they despoiled him of the armor, and they sent it into the land of the Philistines all around, so that it might be announced in the temples of the idols and among their people.

1 Samuel 31:10 And they placed his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth. But his body they suspended on the wall of Bethshan.

1 Samuel 31:11 And when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead had heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

1 Samuel 31:12 all the most valiant men rose up, and they walked all night, and they took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan. And they went to Jabesh Gilead, and they burned them there.

1 Samuel 31:13 And they took their bones, and they buried them in the forest of Jabesh. And they fasted for seven days.

 1 Samuel 1:1 Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at Ziklag.

1 Samuel 1:2 Then, on the third day, a man appeared, arriving from the camp of Saul, with his garments torn and dust sprinkled on his head. And when he came to David, he fell on his face, and he reverenced.

1 Samuel 1:3 And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have fled from the camp of Israel.”

1 Samuel 1:4 And David said to him: “What is the word that has happened? Reveal it to me.” And he said: “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died. Moreover, Saul and his son Jonathan have passed away.”

1 Samuel 1:5 And David said to the youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?”

1 Samuel 1:6 And the youth, who was reporting it to him, said: “I arrived by chance on mount Gilboa. And Saul was lying upon his spear. Then the chariots and horsemen drew near to him.

1 Samuel 1:7 And turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,”

1 Samuel 1:8 he said to me, “Who are you?” And I said to him, “I am an Amalekite.”

1 Samuel 1:9 And he said to me: “Stand over me, and kill me. For anguish has taken hold of me, and still my whole life is in me.”

1 Samuel 1:10 And standing over him, I killed him. For I knew that he was not able to live after the fall. And I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

1 Samuel 1:11 Then David, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with all the men who were with him.

1 Samuel 1:12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, over Saul and over his son Jonathan, and over the people of the Lord and over the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.

1 Samuel 1:13 And David said to the youth who had reported it to him, “Where are you from?” And he responded, “I am the son of a man who is a new arrival from the Amalekites.”

1 Samuel 1:14 And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?”

1 Samuel 1:15 And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, and he died.

1 Samuel 1:16 And David said to him: “Your blood is upon your own head. For your own mouth has spoken against you, saying: ‘I have killed the Christ of the Lord.’ ”

1 Samuel 1:17 Then David mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way.