The Death of Saul and His Sons

31 The Philistines fought against Israel,(A) and Israel’s men fled from them. Many were killed on Mount Gilboa.(B) The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons and killed his sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. When the battle intensified against Saul,(C) the archers caught up with him and severely wounded him.[a] Then Saul said to his armor-bearer,(D) “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men(E) will come and run me through and torture me.” But his armor-bearer would not do it because he was terrified. Then Saul took his sword and fell on it.(F) When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his own sword and died with him.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Samuel 31:3 LXX reads and he was wounded under the ribs

Saul Takes His Life(A)

31 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.(B) The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons,(C) and they killed his sons Jonathan,(D) Abinadab and Malki-Shua.(E) The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded(F) him critically.

Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through,(G) or these uncircumcised(H) fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.”

But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him.

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