1 Os filisteus atacaram e derrotaram as tropas israelitas, as quais fugiram, tendo sido liquidadas no sopé do monte Gilboa. 2 Os filisteus foram atrás de Saul e dos seus três filhos e mataram Jónatas, Abinadabe e Malquisua. 3 A luta cresceu depois com violência em volta de Saul e os frecheiros conseguiram feri-lo gravemente.

4 Então ele gritou ao seu escudeiro: "Desembainha a tua espada e atravessa-me com ela, antes que esta gente incircuncisa me mate, gabando-se ainda do que fizeram." Mas o homem teve medo de fazer tal coisa. Por isso, Saul pegou na sua própria espada e atirou-se sobre ela. 5 Nessa altura, o escudeiro, vendo que Saul estava morto, matou-se da mesma forma. 6 Assim, Saul e o seu pajem, os seus três filhos e as suas tropas morreram no mesmo dia.

7 Quando os israelitas do outro lado do vale, para lá do Jordão, ouviram que os seus compatriotas tinham fugido e que Saul e os filhos tinham morrido, abandonaram as cidades, e os filisteus foram viver nelas.

8 No dia seguinte, quando os filisteus vieram para despojar os mortos, encontraram os corpos de Saul e dos seus três filhos no monte Gilboa. 9 Cortaram a cabeça a Saul, tiraram-lhe as armas e anunciaram-no nos templos dos seus deuses e ao seu povo por toda a terra. 10 As suas armas foram colocadas no templo de Astarote e o seu corpo pendurado no muro de Bete-Seã.

11 Quando o povo de Jabes-Gileade ouviu o que os filisteus tinham feito ao corpo de Saul, 12 os seus guerreiros, os mais valentes, foram de noite até Bete-Seã, retiraram de lá os corpos de Saul e dos filhos e trouxeram-nos para Jabes onde os queimaram. 13 O que restou enterraram sob o carvalho de Jabes, jejuando depois por sete dias.

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.*31.1 slain: or, wounded 2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons. 3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.*31.3 and the archers: Heb. and the shooters, men with bows*31.3 hit…: Heb. found him 4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.*31.4 abuse…: or, mock me 5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

7 And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the 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 three sons fallen in mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people. 10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.

11 And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;*31.11 of that: or, concerning him that 12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. 13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.