1 Os filisteus atacaram Israel, e os israelitas fugiram deles. Muitos foram mortos nas encostas do monte Gilboa. 2 Os filisteus cercaram Saul e seus filhos e mataram três deles: Jônatas, Abinadabe e Malquisua. 3 O combate se tornou cada vez mais intenso em volta de Saul, e os arqueiros filisteus o alcançaram e o feriram.

4 Saul disse a seu escudeiro: "Pegue sua espada e mate-me antes que esses filisteus incircuncisos venham e me torturem".

Mas o escudeiro teve medo e não quis matá-lo. Então Saul pegou sua própria espada e se lançou sobre ela. 5 Quando viu que Saul estava morto, o escudeiro se lançou sobre sua espada e morreu. 6 Saul e seus três filhos morreram juntos, e sua dinastia chegou ao fim.

7 Quando os israelitas no vale de Jezreel viram que o exército israelita havia fugido e que Saul e seus filhos estavam mortos, abandonaram suas cidades e fugiram. Então os filisteus vieram e ocuparam essas cidades.

8 No dia seguinte, quando os filisteus foram saquear os mortos, encontraram os corpos de Saul e seus três filhos no monte Gilboa. 9 Removeram a armadura de Saul e cortaram sua cabeça. Então anunciaram o ocorrido diante de seus ídolos e ao povo de toda a terra da Filístia. 10 Colocaram a armadura de Saul no templo de seus deuses e penduraram sua cabeça no templo de Dagom.

11 Quando os habitantes de Jabes-Gileade souberam o que os filisteus haviam feito a Saul, 12 todos os seus guerreiros mais valentes foram e trouxeram os corpos de Saul e seus filhos de volta para Jabes. Enterraram os ossos debaixo de uma grande árvore em Jabes e jejuaram durante sete dias.

13 Saul morreu porque foi infiel ao Senhor. Não obedeceu ao mandamento do Senhor e chegou a consultar uma médium, 14 em vez de pedir orientação ao Senhor. Por isso o Senhor o matou e entregou 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.*10.1 slain: or, wounded 2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.*10.2 Abinadab: also called, Ishui 3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.*10.3 and the archers: Heb. and the shooters with bows*10.3 hit: Heb. found 4 Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.*10.4 abuse me: or, mock me 5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the 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 that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then 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 when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people. 10 And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

11 And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 They arose, all the valiant men, 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 transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;*10.13 committed: Heb. transgressed 14 And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.*10.14 Jesse: Heb. Isai