1 Samuel 31:12

1 Samuel 31:12

 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.

a. 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.

b. 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.

c. Young’s Literal Translation: and all the men of valour arise, and go all the night, and take the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of Beth-Shan, and come in to Jabesh, and burn them there,

d. Amplified Bible: All the valiant men arose and went all night, and they took the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan and came to Jabesh and cremated them there.

e. Septuagint: And they rose up, even every man of might, and marched all night, and took the body of Saul and the body of Jonathan his son from the wall of Baethsam; and they bring them to Jabis, and burn them there. 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: and all the daring men arose and went throughout the night, and took the remains of Saul and the remains of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came back to Jabesh. They burned them there

1. “All the valiant men arose…”

a. the valiant [2428 * chayil] [Strong: probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength:--able, activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, (+)valiant(-ly), valour, virtuous(-ly), war, worthy(-ily).]

b. valiant [381 * 'Iysh-Chayil] [Strong: from 376 and 2428; man of might; by defect. transcription (2 Sam. 23:20) Iysh-Chay {eesh-khah'ee}; as if from 376 and 2416; living man; Ish-chail (or Ish-chai), an Israelite:--a valiant man.]

c. men [376 * 'iysh] [Strong: contracted for 582 (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation):--also, another, any (man), a certain, + champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-)man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), + none, one, people, person, + steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy.]

d. arose [6965 * quwm] [Strong: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, - rising).]

1). Given all the circumstances of the situation I believe the men of Jabesh-gilead were stirred in courage to show thanks to the family of Saul for his kindness toward them. This was a daring raid that required much courage. They were going into the enemie’s city and steal their war trophies, both physical and spiritual.

2. “…and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan…”

a. and went [3212 * yalak] [Strong: a primitive root (Compare 1980); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses):--X again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, + follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, + pursue, cause to run, spread, take away ((-journey)), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, X be weak.]

b. all night [3915 * layil; or leyl; also Laylah] [Strong: from the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity:--((mid-))night (season).]

c. and took [3947 * laqach] [Strong: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications):--accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, X many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.]

d. the body [1472 * gviyah] [Strong: prolonged for 1465; a body, whether alive or dead:--(dead) body, carcase, corpse.]

e. of Saul [7586 * Sha'uwl] [Strong: passive participle of 7592; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites:--Saul, Shaul.]

f. and the bodies [1472 * gviyah] [Strong: prolonged for 1465; a body, whether alive or dead:--(dead) body, carcase, corpse.]

g. of his sons [1121 * ben] [Strong: from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.]

h. from the wall [2346 * chowmah] [Strong: feminine active participle of an unused root apparently meaning to join; a wall of protection:--wall, walled.]

i. Bethshan [1052 * Beyth Sh'an; or Beyth Shan] [Strong: from 1004 and 7599; house of ease; Beth-Shean or Beth-Shan, a place in Palestine:--Beth- shean, Beth-Shan.]

1). Jabesh-Gilead was a city about 13 or 14 miles southeast of Beth Shan. It says nothing of any resistance or if they were even detected, but I’m sure that in the morning when the remains were gone the inhabitants of Bethshan were angry.

3. “…and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.”

a. and came [935 * bow’] [Strong: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications):--abide, apply, attain, X be, befall, + besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, X certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, X doubtless again, + eat, + employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, + follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, + have, X indeed, (in-)vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, X (well) stricken (in age), X surely, take (in), way.]

b. to Jabesh [3003 * Yabesh; the same as 3002; also Yabeysh] [Strong: often with the addition of 1568, i.e. Jabesh of Gilad); Jobesh, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine:--Jobesh ((-Gilead)).]

c. and burnt them there [8313 * seraph] [Strong: a primitive root; to be (causatively, set) on fire:--(cause to, make a) burn((-ing), up) kindle, X utterly.]

1). Rabbinic note under 1 Samuel 31:12, Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: According to most commentators, they burned Saul’s belongings, in accord with the dictum that no one may use a king’s possessions. Radak suggests that the bodies had become decomposed and infested, so the people burned the flesh, leaving the bones for burial.