1Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa. 2And the Philistines pursued Saul and his sons closely; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3And the battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed because of the archers. 4Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not; for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it. 5And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died. 6So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together. 7And 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. 8And it happened on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on mount Gilboa. 9And they stripped him, and took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to their idols, and to the people. 10And they put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon. 11And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all 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. 13So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yehovah, because of the word of Yehovah, which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire by it, 14and did not inquire of Yehovah: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.