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

11But when the people of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12all 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. Then they took their bones and buried them beneath the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and 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 35:8Soon after this, Rebekah’s old nurse, Deborah, died. She was buried beneath the oak tree in the valley below Bethel. Ever since, the tree has been called Allon-bacuth (which means “oak of weeping”).
• 2 Samuel 2:4Then the men of Judah came to David and anointed him king over the people of Judah. When David heard that the men of Jabesh-gilead had buried Saul,
• 2 Samuel 21:12he went to the people of Jabesh-gilead and retrieved the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. (When the Philistines had killed Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa, the people of Jabesh-gilead stole their bodies from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them.)
• Genesis 50:10When they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River, they held a very great and solemn memorial service, with a seven-day period of mourning for Joseph’s 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