1 Samuel 31:13

1 Samuel 31:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
• New International Version (NIV)Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

Context of 1 Samuel 31:13

11When the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all their warriors set out and traveled throughout the night. They took Saul’s corpse and the corpses of his sons from the city wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. They took the bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh; then they fasted for seven days.

1 Samuel 31:13 word by word

וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אֶת־עַצְמֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ תַֽחַת־הָאֶ֖שֶׁל בְּיָבֵ֑שָׁה וַיָּצֻ֖מוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• their bonesעֶ֫צֶם‛etsem · boneH6106
• and buriedקָבַרqâbar · to buryH6912
• under a treeאֵ֫שֶׁל'êshel · tamariskH815
• at Jabeshיָבֵשׁyâbêsh yâbêysh · Jabesh (Gilead)H3003
• and fastedצוּםtsûm · to fastH6684
• sevenשֶׁ֫בַעsheba‛ shib‛âh · sevenH7651
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 31:13

• Genesis 35:8(Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died and was buried under the oak below Bethel; thus it was named Oak of Weeping.)
• 2 Samuel 2:4The men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the people of Judah. David was told, “The people of Jabesh Gilead are the ones who buried Saul.”
• 2 Samuel 21:12he went and took the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan from the leaders of Jabesh Gilead. (They had secretly taken them from the plaza at Beth Shan. It was there that Philistines publicly exposed their corpses after they had killed Saul at Gilboa.)
• Genesis 50:10When they came to the threshing floor of Atad on the other side of the Jordan, they mourned there with very great and bitter sorrow. There Joseph observed a seven day period of mourning for his father.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 31:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13And fasted seven days - To testify their sincere regret for his unfortunate death, and the public calamity that had fallen upon the land. Thus ends the troublesome, and I had almost said the useless, reign of Saul. A king was chosen in opposition to the will of the Most High; and the government of God in effect rejected, to make way for this king. Saul was at first a very humble young man, and conducted himself with great propriety; but his elevation made…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13Under a tree - Rather, “Under the tamarisk,” a well-known tree at Jabesh which was standing when this narrative was written. They fasted seven days - In imitation of the mourning for Jacob (marginal reference). They would give full honor to Saul though he was fallen. sa180Read 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. 13bones … Jabesh: This was not where Saul's remains were finally laid to rest (see 2 Samuel 21:12–14). The end of 1 Samuel returns Israel's history to the time at the end of Judges, when “Israel had no king.” The Philistines were in control again. David had God’s anointing but no crown. He had wives but no sons. His connection with the hated Philistines may have put his standing with his own people at risk. David's future would be difficult. Still, it was…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 31:13

• Burial
• Fasting
• Jabesh-Gilead
• Jonathan
• Mourning
• Seven

In the dictionaries

• Burial
• Fast
• Grove
• Hit
• JabeshGilead
• Mourn
• Tamarisk
• Achish
• Chronicles, Books of
• Corpse

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