New Living Translation

1 Samuel 31:1-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

1. Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.

2. The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua.

3. The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely.

4. Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.”But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

5. When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king.

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