1 Samuel 31:12
ESV
all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.
NIV
all their valiant men marched through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them.
NASB
all the valiant men got up and walked all night, and they took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.
CSB
all their brave men set out, journeyed all night, and retrieved the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. When they arrived at Jabesh, they burned the bodies there.
NLT
all their mighty warriors traveled through the night to Beth-shan and took the bodies of Saul and his sons down from the wall. They brought them to Jabesh, where they burned the bodies.
KJV
All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
NKJV
all the valiant men arose and traveled all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan; and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.
What does 1 Samuel 31:12 mean?
About forty years before, Ammonites surrounded the city of Jabesh-gilead. The people had seven days to find a defender. If they didn't, everyone would lose their right eye and become lifelong servants to the Ammonite commander. Without much hope, they sent out messengers. One messenger found his way to Saul, the newly crowned king of Israel. When Saul got the message, he was so angry he cut a yoke of oxen into pieces and sent them throughout the nation, threatening to do the same to any man who didn't join his army. The Ammonites were destroyed, and the city was saved (1 Samuel 11).Now, Saul is dead. Philistine archers wounded him. He didn't want to face the humiliation and suffering of capture and ended his life (1 Samuel 31:3–4).
The people of the Israelite town of Jabesh-gilead, across the Jordan River, learn that the bodies of Saul and his sons have been desecrated. The corpses are fastened to the wall at Beth-shan, as a declaration of Philistine victory over Israel. The fighting men of the city risk their lives to travel from Jabesh to Beth-shan during the night to steal the bodies back.
Returning home, the people of Jabesh burn all four corpses. Cremation was not usually practiced in Israel, but it was one way to make sure the Philistines could do no more damage to the remains of King Saul and his sons. They bury the bones under a tamarisk tree and take seven days to fast in honor of their king (1 Samuel 31:13).
