Old Testament

New Testament

1 Samuel 31:1-8 Modern English Version (MEV)

1. Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and Israel’s fighting men fled before the Philistines and they fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

2. The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed his sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, Saul’s sons.

3. The battle was heavy against Saul. The archers found him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.

4. Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and abuse me.”But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell upon it.

5. When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.

6. So Saul died with his three sons and his armor bearer, together with all his men on that same day.

7. When Israel’s fighting men who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that Israel’s fighting men fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled. So the Philistines came and lived in them.

8. The following day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

Read complete chapter 1 Samuel 31