1 Samuel 31

A battle in Mount Gilboa between Israel and the Philistines; in which the former are defeated, and Saul's three sons slain, 1 Samuel 31:1 , 1 Samuel 31:2 . Saul, being mortally wounded, and afraid to fall alive into the hands of the Philistines, desires his armor-bearer to despatch him; which he refusing, Saul falls on his sword, and his armor-bearer does the same, 1 Samuel 31:3-6 . The Israelites on the other side of the valley forsake their cities, and the Philistines come and dwell in them, 1 Samuel 31:7 . The Philistines, finding Saul and his three sons among the slain, strip them of their armor, which they put in the house of Ashtaroth, cut of their heads, send the news to all the houses of their idols, and fasten the bodies of Saul and his three sons to the walls of Beth-shan, 1 Samuel 31:8-10 . Valiant men of Jabesh-gilead go by night, and take away the bodies; burn them at Jabesh; bury their bones under a tree; and fast seven days, 1 Samuel 31:11-13 .