1. Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek; and the Israelites encamped by the spring which is in JEZREEL.

2. The lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rear with Achish.

3. Then the princes of the Philistines said, "What about these Hebrews?"Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, "Isn't this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away to today?"

4. But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; and the princes of the Philistines said to him, "Make the man return, that he may go back to his place where you have appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For with what should this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Should it not be with the heads of these men?

5. Isn't this David, of whom people sang to one another in dances, saying,'Saul has slain his thousands,and David his ten thousands?'"

6. Then Achish called David, and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords don't favor you.

7. Therefore now return, and go in peace, that you not displease the lords of the Philistines."

8. David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"

9. Achish answered David, "I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God. Notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'

10. Therefore now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your lord who have come with you; and as soon as you are up early in the morning, and have light, depart."

11. So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to JEZREEL.

1. Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa.

2. The Philistines overtook Saul and on his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.

3. The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.

4. Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me!" But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it.

5. When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died with him.

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

Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the news came about Saul and Jonathan out of JEZREEL; and his nurse picked him up and fled. As she hurried to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.