Home› Bible› 1 Samuel› Chapter 31

1 Samuel 31

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 31 of 31

1 And the Philistines were fighting against Israel. And the men of Israel fled from the face of the Philistines, and they fell down wounded in Mount Gilboa.

2 And the Philistines followed Saul and his sons. And the Philistines struck Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.

3 And the battle went hard against Saul. And the archers, men with the bow, found him and he was sorely wounded by the archers.

Read full chapter in the Bible Reader

Chapter Summary

Saul and his armor bearer kill themselves. The Philistines possess the towns of Israel. The people of Jabesh-gilead recover and burn the bodies of Saul and his three sons by night.

Key Hebrew Words

חֶ֫רֶב sword H2719 · TWOT 732a
כְּלִי weapons, armor H3627 · TWOT 982g
חָלָל slain, pierced H2491 · TWOT 660a
עָרֵל uncircumcised H6189 · TWOT 1695b
גְּוִיָּה body, corpse H1472 · TWOT 326d
עָצָב idols H6091 · TWOT 1667c

People & Context

Saul

Israel's first king; wounded by archers on Gilboa, he falls on his own sword and dies

Jonathan

Saul's son, struck down by the Philistines alongside his brothers

Abinadab

Son of Saul, killed with his father and brothers on Mount Gilboa

Malchishua

Son of Saul, struck down by the Philistines in the battle

Timeline

Israel Defeated on Mount Gilboa

The Philistines violently defeat the Israelites in battle. The Israelites flee, and many fall wounded on Mount Gilboa.

1 Samuel 31:1
Death of Saul's Sons

The Philistines overtake Saul's family and strike down three of his sons: Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua.

1 Samuel 31:2
Saul's Suicide

Sorely wounded by archers and fearing abuse by the uncircumcised, Saul begs his armorbearer to kill him. When the armorbearer refuses out of fear, Saul falls on his own sword.

1 Samuel 31:3-6

Read 1 Samuel 31 in the KJ3 Reader

Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

Open in Bible Reader
1 Samuel 301 Samuel2 Samuel 1