11Now the Philistinesfought against Israel; and the men of Israelfledbefore* the Philistines and fellslain on MountGilboa.
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The PhilistinescloselypursuedSaul and his sons, and the PhilistinesstruckdownJonathan, 2Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.
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The battlebecameheavyagainstSaul, and the archers*overtook him; and he was wounded by the archers.
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Then Saulsaid to his armorbearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwisetheseuncircumcised will come and abuse me." But his armorbearerwould not, for he was greatlyafraid. 3Therefore Saultook his sword and fell on it.
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When his armorbearersaw that Saul was dead, he likewisefell on his sword and died.
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4Thus Sauldied with his threesons, and all those of his housediedtogether.
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When all the men of Israelwho were in the valleysaw that they had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities and fled; and the Philistinescame and lived in them.
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It came about the nextday, when the Philistinescame to strip the slain, that they foundSaul and his sonsfallen on MountGilboa.
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5So they stripped him and took his head and his armor and sent messengers around the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people.
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They put his armor in the house of their gods and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.
Jabesh-gilead's Tribute to Saul
11 When allJabesh-gilead*heardall that the Philistines had done to Saul,
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6all the valiantmenarose and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons and brought them to Jabesh, and they buried their bonesunder the oak in Jabesh, and fastedsevendays.
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7So Sauldied for his trespasswhich he committed against the LORD, because of the word of the LORDwhich he did not keep; and also8because he asked counsel of a medium, makinginquiry of it,
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and did not inquire of the LORD. Therefore He killed him and 9turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.