2 Samuel 21:12

2 Samuel 21:12

And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:

a. ASV: And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines slew Saul in Gilboa;

b. YLT: and David goeth and taketh the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the possessors of Jabesh-Gilead, who had stolen them from the broad place of Beth-Shan, where the Philistines hanged them, in the day of the Philistines smiting Saul in Gilboa;

c. Amplified Bible Classic: And David went and took the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them up when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa.

d. Septuagint: And David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of the sons of Jabis Galaad, who stole them from the street of Baethsan; for the Philistines set them there in the day in which the Philistines smote Saul in Gelbue.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: And david went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them on the day that the Philistines defeated Saul at Gilboa.

1. “And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead…”

a. [And] David [Strong: 1732 Dâvid, daw-veed'; rarely (fully); דָּוִיד Dâvîyd; from the same as H1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse:—David.] [The KJV translates Strong's H1732 in the following manner: David (1,076x).]

b. went [Strong: 3212 yâlak, yaw-lak'; a primitive root (compare H1980); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses):—× 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, × be weak.] [The KJV translates Strong's H3212 in the following manner: go (628x), walk (122x), come (77x), depart (66x), ...away (20x), follow (20x), get (14x), lead (17x), brought (8x), carry (5x), bring (4x), miscellaneous (62x).]

c. [and] took [Strong: 3947 lâqach, law-kakh'; a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications):—accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, × many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.] [The KJV translates Strong's H3947 in the following manner: take (747x), receive (61x), take away (51x), fetch (31x), bring (25x), get (6x), take out (6x), carry away (5x), married (4x), buy (3x), miscellaneous (26x).]

d. [the] bones [Strong: 6106 ʻetsem, eh'tsem; from H6105; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pronoun) selfsame:—body, bone, × life, (self-) same, strength, × very.] [The KJV translates Strong's H6106 in the following manner: bone (104x), selfsame (11x), same (5x), body (2x), very (2x), life (1x), strength (1x).]

e. [of] Saul [Strong: 7586 Shâʼûwl, shaw-ool'; passive participle of H7592; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites:—Saul, Shaul.] [The KJV translates Strong's H7586 in the following manner: Saul (399x), Shaul (7x).]

f. [and the] bones [Strong: 6106 ʻetsem, eh'tsem; from H6105; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pronoun) selfsame:—body, bone, × life, (self-) same, strength, × very.] [The KJV translates Strong's H6106 in the following manner: bone (104x), selfsame (11x), same (5x), body (2x), very (2x), life (1x), strength (1x).]

g. [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

h. [of] Jonathan [Strong: 3083 Yᵉhôwnâthân, yeh-ho-naw-thawn'; from H3068 and H5414; Jehovah-given; Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites:—Jonathan.] [The KJV translates Strong's H3083 in the following manner: Jonathan (76x), Jehonathan (6x).]

i. [his] son [Strong: 1121 bên, bane; from H1129; 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 father or brother), 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, × came up in, child, colt, × common, × corn, daughter, × of first, firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, × in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, +mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, rebel, + robber, × servant born, × soldier, son, +spark, steward, + stranger, × surely, them of, + tumultuous one, valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.] [The KJV translates Strong's H1121 in the following manner: son (2,978x), children (1,568x), old (135x), first (51x), man (20x), young (18x), young (with H1241) (17x), child (10x), stranger (10x), people (5x), miscellaneous (92x).]

j. from [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

k. [the] men [Strong: 1167 baʻal, bah'-al; from H1166; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense):— archer, babbler, bird, captain, chief man, confederate, have to do, dreamer, those to whom it is due, furious, those that are given to it, great, hairy, he that hath it, have, horseman, husband, lord, man, married, master, person, sworn, they of.] [The KJV translates Strong's H1167 in the following manner: man (25x), owner (14x), husband (11x), have (7x), master (5x), man given (2x), adversary (1x), archers (1x), babbler (with H3956) (1x), bird (with H3671) (1x), captain (1x), confederate (with H1285) (1x), miscellaneous (12x).]

l. Jabesh [Strong: 3003 Yâbêsh, yaw-bashe'; the same as H3002 (also יָבֵישׁ Yâbêysh; often with the addition of H1568, i.e. Jabesh of Gilad); Jobesh, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine:—Jobesh (-Gilead).] [The KJV translates Strong's H3003 in the following manner: Jabesh (12x), Jabeshgilead (12x).]

m. Gilead [Strong: 1568 Gilʻâd, ghil-awd'; probably from H1567; Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites:—Gilead, Gileadite.] [The KJV translates Strong's H1568 in the following manner: Gilead (101x), Ramothgilead (with H7433) (18x), Jabeshgilead (with H3003) (12x), Gileadites (2x).]

2. “...which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:”

a. which [Strong: 834 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]

b. [had] stolen [them] [Strong: 1589  gânab, gaw-nab'; a primitive root; to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive:—carry away, × indeed, secretly bring, steal (away), get by stealth.] [The KJV translates Strong's H1589 in the following manner: steal (30x), steal away (7x), carry away (1x), brought (1x).]

c. [from the] street [Strong: 7339 rᵉchôb, rekh-obe'; or רְחוֹב rᵉchôwb; from H7337; a width, i.e. (concretely) avenue or area:—broad place (way), street.] [The KJV translates Strong's H7339 in the following manner: street (40x), ways (2x), places (1x).]

d. [of] Bethshan [Strong: 1052 Bêyth Shᵉʼân, bayth she-awn'; or בֵּית שָׁן Bêyth Shân; from H1004 and H7599; house of ease; Beth-Shean or Beth-Shan, a place in Palestine:—Beth-shean, Beth-Shan.] [The KJV translates Strong's H1052 in the following manner: Bethshean (6x), Bethshan (3x).]

e. where [Strong: 834 'aher ash-er' a primitive relative pronoun (of every gender and number); who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.:--X after, X alike, as (soon as), because, X every, for, + forasmuch, + from whence, + how(-soever), X if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), X though, + until, + whatsoever, when, where (+ -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, + whither(- soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection.]

f. [the] Philistines [Strong: 6430 Pᵉlishtîy, pel-ish-tee'; patrial from H6429; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth:—Philistine.] [The KJV translates Strong's H6430 in the following manner: Philistine (287x), Philistim (1x).]

g. [had] hanged [them [Strong: 8511 tâlâʼ, taw-law'; a primitive root; to suspend; figuratively (through hesitation) to be uncertain; by implication (of mental dependence) to habituate:—be bent, hang (in doubt).] [The KJV translates Strong's H8511 in the following manner: hang (2x), bent (1x).]

h. [Strong: 8518 tâlâh, taw-law'; a primitive root; to suspend (especially to gibbet):—hang (up).] [The KJV translates Strong's H8518 in the following manner: hang (25x), hang up (2x), variant (1x).]

i. when [Strong: 3117 yôwm, yome; from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):—age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, ×required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.] [The KJV translates Strong's H3117 in the following manner: day (2,008x), time (64x), chronicles (with H1697) (37x), daily (44x), ever (18x), year (14x), continually (10x), when (10x), as (10x), while (8x), full (8x), always (4x), whole (4x), alway (4x), miscellaneous (44x).]

j. [the] Philistines [Strong: 6430 Pᵉlishtîy, pel-ish-tee'; patrial from H6429; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth:—Philistine.] [The KJV translates Strong's H6430 in the following manner: Philistine (287x), Philistim (1x).]

k. [had] slain [Strong: 5221 nâkâh, naw-kaw'; a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively):—beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), × go forward, × indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, × surely, wound.] [The KJV translates Strong's H5221 in the following manner: smite (348x), slay (92x), kill (20x), beat (9x), slaughter (5x), stricken (3x), given (3x), wounded (3x), strike (2x), stripes (2x), miscellaneous (13x).]

l. Saul [Strong: 7586 Shâʼûwl, shaw-ool'; passive participle of H7592; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites:—Saul, Shaul.] [The KJV translates Strong's H7586 in the following manner: Saul (399x), Shaul (7x).]

m. [in] Gilboa [Strong: 1533 Gilbôaʻ, ghil-bo'-ah; from H1530 and H1158; fountain of ebullition; Gilboa, a mountain of Palestine:—Gilboa.] [The KJV translates Strong's H1533 in the following manner: Gilboa (8x).]

1). Jabesh-Gilead was a city about 13 or 14 miles southeast of Beth Shan. The inhabitants of the city were rescued by Saul from the designs of Nahash the Ammonite almost right after Saul was anointed to be King of Israel.

a). 1 Samuel 11:1-11 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

11:2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

11:3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

11:4 Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

11:5 And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

11:7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lordfell on the people, and they came out with one consent.

11:8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

11:9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

11:10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.

11:11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

2). It was because of this valiant rescue of Jabesh-Gilead by Saul that the inhabitants felt obligated to go and retrieve the remains of Saul and his sons from being dishonored by the Philistines.

a). 1 Samuel 31:11-13 And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

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.

31:13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.