1 Os filisteus combatiam contra Israel e os israelitas puseram-se em fuga diante deles: muitos tombaram feridos de morte, na montanha de Gelboé.2 Os filisteus lançaram-se a perseguir Saul e seus filhos; mataram Jônatas, Abinadab e Melquisua, filhos de Saul.3 Em seguida, o peso da luta voltou-se contra Saul; os arqueiros alcançaram-no e o feriram no ventre.4 Disse então Saul a seu escudeiro: Desembainha tua espada e transpassa-me, para que os incircuncisos não venham a ultrajar-me. Mas o escudeiro não o quis, tanto medo se apossava dele. Então Saul tirou sua espada e atirou-se sobre ela.5 À vista de Saul morto, o escudeiro também se atirou sobre sua espada, e morreu.6 Assim morreram Saul e seus três filhos; e toda a sua casa pereceu ao mesmo tempo.7 Todos os israelitas que estavam na planície, vendo que os filhos de Israel recuavam e que Saul e seus filhos estavam mortos, abandonaram suas cidades e fugiram; e vieram os filisteus e estabeleceram-se nelas.8 No dia seguinte, os filisteus, vindos para despojar os mortos, encontraram Saul e seus filhos estendidos na montanha de Gelboé.9 Despojaram-no, tiraram sua cabeça e suas armas, e as enviaram para anunciar as boas novas a toda a terra dos filisteus, diante de seus ídolos e do povo.10 Colocaram as armas de Saul no templo de seus deuses e suspenderam seu crânio no templo de Dagon.11 Todos os habitantes de Jabes em Galaad, ao serem informados de tudo o que os filisteus tinham feito a Saul,12 levantaram-se; todos os homens valentes tomaram o corpo de Saul e os corpos de seus filhos, e os transportaram para Jabes. Enterraram seus ossos debaixo do terebinto de Jabes e jejuaram durante sete dias.13 Saul morreu por causa da infidelidade, pela qual se tornara culpado contra o Senhor, não observando a palavra do Senhor e por ter consultado necromantes.14 Não consultou o Senhor e o Senhor o fez morrer, transferindo assim a realeza para Davi, filho de Isaí.

1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and there fell down many slain on mount Gilboa’.2 And the Philistines pursuing them overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines smote Jonathan, and ‘Abinadab, and Malkishua’, the sons of Saul.3 And the battle was heavy against Saul, and he was found by the archers, and he was greatly in dread of the archers.4 And Saul said to his armor–bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and wantonly ill–use me. But his armor–bearer would not; for he was greatly afraid: wherefore Saul took the sword and fell upon it.5 And when the armor–bearer saw that Saul was dead, then fell he likewise on the sword, and died.6 Thus died Saul and his three sons; and all his household died together.7 And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they had 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, that the Philistines came to strip the slain; and they found Saul and his sons fallen on mount Gilboa’.9 And they stripped him, and they carried away his head, and his armor, and sent them into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it to their idols, and to the people.10 And they put his armor in the house of their gods, and his skull they fastened in the temple of Dagon.11 And when all Yabesh–gil’ad heard all the Philistines had done to Saul:12 Then arose all the valiant men, and carried away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Yabesh; and they buried their bones under the terebinth in Yabesh, and they fasted seven days.13 And so died Saul for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he had not kept, and also for asking one of a familiar spirit to inquire of the same;14 And had not inquired of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned over the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.