1 Samuel 31:12 - Printer Friendly

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.

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).

First Samuel 31:8–13 describes the desecration and rescue of King Saul's corpse. Saul has taken his own life after being wounded in battle by the Philistines. His fear that the Philistines would mistreat him will come true. However, a group of people from Jabesh, whom Saul had once rescued, will retrieve his body and the bodies of his sons who also died in battle. First Samuel was the story of the prophet Samuel, King Saul, and the rise of David. Second Samuel is the story of King David. This account is also recorded in 1 Chronicles 10:8–14.

Philistines overwhelm the outnumbered Israelites. Soldiers kill three of Saul's sons, and archers critically wound Saul. When his armor-bearer refuses to end Saul's life, Saul commits suicide. The Philistines behead Saul's body, display his armor in a temple of their goddess, and hang his and his son's bodies on public display. The men of Jabesh-gilead retrieve the bodies and respectfully bury them.

The reign of Saul ends. Saul knows his time has come. His son will not inherit the crown (2 Samuel 15:28). The Philistine force is too great (1 Samuel 28:5). He and his sons will die today (1 Samuel 28:19). By the end of the battle, Saul and three of his sons are dead. Soon, Judah will crown David as king (2 Samuel 2:4). After a brief civil war, David will be king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:3).

First Samuel introduces the key figures who led Israel after the era of the judges. The books of 1 and 2 Samuel were originally part of a single text, split in certain translations shortly before the birth of Christ. Some of the Bible’s most famous characters are depicted in this book. These including the prophet Samuel, Israel’s first king, Saul, her greatest king, David, and other famous names such as Goliath and Jonathan. By the end of this book, Saul has fallen; the book of 2 Samuel begins with David’s ascension to the throne.