1 Samuel 31

The Death of Saul

1 Now a the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount b Gilboa. 2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed c Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons. 3 d The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers 1 hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers. 4 e Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest f these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and 2 abuse me." But his armorbearer would not, g for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and h fell on it. 5 And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword, and died with him. 6 So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day. 7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8 So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to i proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people. 10 j Then they put his armor in the temple of the k Ashtoreths, and l they fastened his body to the wall of m Beth 3 Shan. 11 n Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 o all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and p burned them there. 13 Then they took their bones and q buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, r and fasted seven days.

  1. Cross References
    1 Samuel 23:22
    Please go and find out for sure, and see the place where his hideout is, and who has seen him there. For I am told he is very crafty.
  2. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 10:1 - 12
    Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 28:4
    Then the Philistines gathered together, and came and encamped at Shunem. So Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped at Gilboa.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 14:49
    The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Jishui, and Malchishua. And the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal.
    1 Chronicles 8:33
    Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and EshBaal.
  5. Cross References
    2 Samuel 1:6
    Then the young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 9:54
    Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, 'A woman killed him.' " So his young man thrust him through, and he died.
    1 Chronicles 10:4
    Then Saul said to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and abuse me." But his armorbearer would not, for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.
  7. Cross References
    Judges 14:3
    Then his father and mother said to him, " Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" And Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well.
    1 Samuel 14:6
    Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.
    1 Samuel 17:26
    Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
    1 Samuel 17:36
    "Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."
  8. Cross References
    2 Samuel 1:14
    So David said to him, "How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?
  9. Cross References
    2 Samuel 1:6
    Then the young man who told him said, "As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
    2 Samuel 1:10
    "So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord."
  10. Cross References
    Judges 16:23
    Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: "Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!
    Judges 16:24
    When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said: "Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, The destroyer of our land, And the one who multiplied our dead.
    2 Samuel 1:20
    Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon - Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
  11. Cross References
    1 Samuel 21:9
    So the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here." And David said, " There is none like it; give it to me.
  12. Cross References
    Judges 2:13
    They forsook the LORD and served Baal and the Ashtoreths.
    1 Samuel 7:3
    Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, "If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.
  13. Cross References
    2 Samuel 21:12
    Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa.
  14. Cross References
    Judges 1:27
    However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.
  15. Cross References
    1 Samuel 11:1 - 13
    Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.
  16. Cross References
    1 Samuel 11:1 - 11
    Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh Gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you.
    2 Samuel 2:4 - 7
    Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.
  17. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 16:14
    They buried him in his own tomb, which he had made for himself in the City of David; and they laid him in the bed which was filled with spices and various ingredients prepared in a mixture of ointments. They made a very great burning for him.
    Jeremiah 34:5
    'You shall die in peace; as in the ceremonies of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they shall burn incense for you and lament for you, saying, "Alas, lord!" For I have pronounced the word, says the LORD.'"
    Amos 6:10
    And when a relative of the dead, with one who will burn the bodies, picks up the bodies to take them out of the house, he will say to one inside the house, " Are there any more with you?" Then someone will say, "None." And he will say, "Hold your tongue! For we dare not mention the name of the LORD.
  18. Cross References
    2 Samuel 2:4
    Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, "The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.
    2 Samuel 2:5
    So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, "You are blessed of the LORD, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.
    2 Samuel 21:12 - 14
    Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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