1 Os filisteus lutaram contra Israel. E os homens de Israel, fugindo da presença dos filisteus, caíram mortos no monte Gilboa. 2 Os filisteus perseguiram Saul e seus filhos e mataram Jônatas, Abinadabe e Malquisua, filhos de Saul. 3 A batalha se intensificou contra Saul. Os flecheiros o avistaram e ele foi ferido gravemente. 4 Então Saul disse ao seu escudeiro:

— Arranque a sua espada e atravesse-me com ela, para que não venham esses incircuncisos e zombem de mim.

Mas o seu escudeiro não quis fazer isso, porque estava com muito medo. Então Saul pegou a sua própria espada e se lançou sobre ela. 5 Quando o escudeiro viu que Saul estava morto, também se lançou sobre a espada e morreu com ele. 6 E assim morreram Saul e os seus três filhos; e toda a sua casa morreu juntamente com ele.

7 Quando os homens de Israel que estavam no vale viram que o exército de Israel fugiu e que Saul e seus filhos estavam mortos, abandonaram as cidades e fugiram. E vieram os filisteus e habitaram nelas.

8 E aconteceu que no dia seguinte, quando os filisteus foram tirar os despojos dos mortos, encontraram Saul e os seus filhos caídos no monte Gilboa. 9 Despojaram os mortos, pegaram a cabeça de Saul e as suas armas e enviaram mensageiros pela terra dos filisteus, ao redor, para levar as boas-novas a seus ídolos e ao povo. 10 Puseram as armas de Saul no templo de seu deus, e a sua cabeça afixaram no templo de Dagom. 11 Quando todos os moradores de Jabes-Gileade ouviram tudo o que os filisteus haviam feito com Saul, 12 todos os homens valentes se levantaram, pegaram o corpo de Saul e os corpos dos filhos e os trouxeram a Jabes. Depois sepultaram os ossos deles debaixo de um arvoredo, em Jabes. E jejuaram sete dias.

13 Assim, Saul morreu por causa da transgressão cometida contra o Senhor, por causa da palavra do Senhor, que ele não tinha guardado; e também porque consultou uma médium 14 e não o Senhor, que, por isso, o matou e transferiu o reino a Davi, filho de Jessé.

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel. And the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.3 And the battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him. And he was wounded because of the archers.4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon i5 And when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died.6 So Saul died, and his three sons. And all his house died together.7 And when all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities, and fled. And the Philistines came and dwelt in them.8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.9 And they stripped him, and took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about to carry the news to their idols, and to the people.10 And they put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.11 And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,12 all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against LORD, because of the word of LORD, which did not keep, and also because he asked counsel of a spiritist, to inquire [thereby],14 and did not inquire of LORD. Therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.