1 Samuel 31:12

1 Samuel 31:12 in other versions

• King James Version (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 Beth–shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (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.

Context of 1 Samuel 31:12

10And they put Saul’s weapons and armor in the temple of the Ashtaroth (female goddesses), and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11When the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the brave men stood and walked all night, and they took the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and cremated them there. 13They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted [as a sign of mourning and respect] for seven days.

1 Samuel 31:12 word by word

וַיָּק֜וּמוּ כָּל־אִ֣ישׁ חַיִל֮ וַיֵּלְכ֣וּ כָל־הַלַּיְלָה֒ וַיִּקְח֞וּ אֶת־גְּוִיַּ֣ת שָׁא֗וּל וְאֵת֙ גְּוִיֹּ֣ת בָּנָ֔יו מֵחוֹמַ֖ת בֵּ֣ית שָׁ֑ן וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ יָבֵ֔שָׁה וַיִּשְׂרְפ֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם שָֽׁם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• All the valiantחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428
• menאִישׁ־חַיִל'îysh-chayil 'îysh-chay · heroH381
• menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• and wentיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• all nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915
• and tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• the bodyגְּוִיָּהgevîyâh · bodyH1472
• of Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• of his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• from the wallחוֹמָהchômâh · wallH2346
• of Beth–shanבֵּית שְׁאָןbêyth she'ân bêyth shân · Beth-sheanH1052
• and cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to Jabeshיָבֵשׁyâbêsh yâbêysh · Jabesh (Gilead)H3003
• and burntשָׂרַףώâraph · to burnH8313

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 31:12

• 2 Chronicles 16:14They buried him in his own tomb which he had cut out for himself in the City of David, and they laid him on a bier which he had filled with various kinds of spices blended by the perfumers’ art; and they made a very great fire in his honor.
• Jeremiah 34:5You will die in peace; and as spices were burned for [the memory and honor of] your fathers, the former kings who reigned before you, so shall a [ceremonial] burning be made for you; and people will lament (grieve) for you, saying, “Alas, lord (master)!” ’ For I have spoken the word,” says the Lord.
• Amos 6:10Then one’s uncle, or his undertaker, shall come to bring the [disease-infected] body out of the house, [to cremate it], and he will say to another in the farthest part of the house, “Is there anyone else with you?” And that one will say, “No one.” Then he will respond, “Hush! Keep quiet! For the name of the Lord is not to be mentioned [even casually, for fear that we might invoke even more punishment].”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 31:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12And burnt them there - It has been denied that the Hebrews burnt the bodies of the dead, but that they buried them in the earth, or embalmed them, and often burnt spices around them, etc. These no doubt were the common forms of sepulture, but neither of these could be conveniently practiced in the present case. They could not have buried them about Beth-shan without being discovered; and as to embalming, that was most likely out of all question, as…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12burnt them - Burning was not the usual mode of sepulture among the Hebrews. But in this case from a pious desire to disguise the mutilation of the headless corpses, and exempt them from any possible future insult, the men of Jabesh burned the bodies, yet so as to preserve the bones 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 21:12.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 The Scripture makes no mention what became of the souls of Saul and his sons, after they were dead; but of their bodies only: secret things belong not to us. It is of little consequence by what means we die, or what is done with our dead bodies. If our souls are saved, our bodies will be raised incorruptible and glorious; but not to fear His wrath, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell, is the extreme of folly and wickedness. How…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12burned the bodies: Cremation was uncommon in the ancient world. The bodies may have been burned because decomposition had already begun.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1311-13. the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done--Mindful of the important and timely services Saul had rendered them, they gratefully and heroically resolved not to suffer such indignities to be inflicted on the remains of the royal family.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 31:12

• Beth-Shean
• Cremation
• Jabesh-Gilead
• Jonathan

In the dictionaries

• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Bethshean
• Burial
• Funeral
• Hit
• JabeshGilead
• Achish
• Body
• Chronicles, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 31

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings