12 All the valiant H2428 men H376 H381 arose, H6965 and went H3212 all night, H3915 and took H3947 the body H1472 of Saul H7586 and the bodies H1472 of his sons H1121 from the wall H2346 of Bethshan, H1052 and came H935 to Jabesh, H3003 and burnt H8313 them there.
And they buried H6912 him in his own sepulchres, H6913 which he had made H3738 for himself in the city H5892 of David, H1732 and laid H7901 him in the bed H4904 which was filled H4390 with sweet odours H1314 and divers kinds H2177 of spices prepared H7543 by the apothecaries' H4842 art: H4639 and they made H8313 a very H3966 great H1419 burning H8316 for him.
And the men H582 of Judah H3063 came, H935 and there they anointed H4886 David H1732 king H4428 over the house H1004 of Judah. H3063 And they told H5046 David, H1732 saying, H559 That the men H582 of Jabeshgilead H3003 H1568 were they that buried H6912 Saul. H7586 And David H1732 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto the men H582 of Jabeshgilead, H3003 H1568 and said H559 unto them, Blessed H1288 be ye of the LORD, H3068 that ye have shewed H6213 this kindness H2617 unto your lord, H113 even unto Saul, H7586 and have buried H6912 him. And now the LORD H3068 shew H6213 kindness H2617 and truth H571 unto you: and I also will requite H6213 you this kindness, H2896 because ye have done H6213 this thing. H1697 Therefore now let your hands H3027 be strengthened, H2388 and be ye valiant: H1121 H2428 for your master H113 Saul H7586 is dead, H4191 and also the house H1004 of Judah H3063 have anointed H4886 me king H4428 over them.
But thou shalt die H4191 in peace: H7965 and with the burnings H4955 of thy fathers, H1 the former H7223 kings H4428 which were before H6440 thee, so shall they burn H8313 odours for thee; and they will lament H5594 thee, saying, Ah H1945 lord! H113 for I have pronounced H1696 the word, H1697 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
And a man's uncle H1730 shall take him up, H5375 and he that burneth H5635 him, to bring out H3318 the bones H6106 out of the house, H1004 and shall say H559 unto him that is by the sides H3411 of the house, H1004 Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, H559 No. H657 Then shall he say, H559 Hold thy tongue: H2013 for we may not make mention H2142 of the name H8034 of the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Samuel 31
Commentary on 1 Samuel 31 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 31
In the foregoing chapter we had David conquering, yea, more than a conqueror. In this chapter we have Saul conquered and worse than a captive. Providence ordered it that both these things should be doing just at the same time. The very same day; perhaps, that David was triumphing over the Amalekites, were the Philistines triumphing over Saul. One is set over against the other, that men may see what comes of trusting in God and what comes of forsaking him. We left Saul ready to engage the Philistines, with a shaking hand and an aching heart, having had his doom read him from hell, which he would not regard when it was read him from heaven. Let us now see what becomes of him. Here is,
1Sa 31:1-7
The day of recompence has now come, in which Saul must account for the blood of the Amalekites which he had sinfully spared, and that of the priests which he had more sinfully spilt; that of David too, which he would have spilt, must come into the account. Now his day has come to fall, as David foresaw, when he should descend into battle and perish, ch. 26:10. Come and see the righteous judgments of God.
1Sa 31:8-13
The scripture makes no mention of the souls of Saul and his sons, what became of them after they were dead (secret things belong not to us), but of their bodies only.
This book began with the birth of Samuel, but now it ends with the burial of Saul, the comparing of which two together will teach us to prefer the honour that comes from God before any of the honours which this world pretends to have the disposal of.