The Death of Saul and His Sons

1 The Philistines fought against Israel,(A) and Israel’s men fled from them. Many were killed on Mount Gilboa.(B) 2 The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons and killed his sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua. 3 When the battle intensified against Saul,(C) the archers caught up with him and severely wounded him.(a) 4 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) 5 When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his own sword and died with him.

Footnotes:

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

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