1 Samuel 31:11

_AND WHEN THE INHABITANTS OF JABESH-GILEAD HEARD OF THAT WHICH THE PHILISTINES HAD DONE TO SAUL;_ When the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done. This city was situated nearly opposite Beth-shan, on the other side of Jordan; and its people, mindful of the important services which Saul had rendered them, gratefully and heroically resolved not to suffer such indignities to be inflicted on the royal family.`They deemed it,' says Josephus ('Antiquities,' b. 6:, ch. 14:, sec. 8), 'so horrid a thing to overlook this barbarity, and to suffer them to be without funeral rites, that the most courageous and hardy among them (and indeed that city had in it men that were very stout both in body and mind), formed the benevolent design of rescuing the mangled corpses of Saul and his sons from dishonourable exposure.'...

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 useless is the respect of fellow-creatures to those who are suffering the wrath of God! While pompous funerals, grand monuments, and he praises of men, honour the memory of the deceased, the soul may be suffering in the regions of darkness and despair! Let us seek that honour which cometh from God only....

Verse 1 Samuel 31:11. _WHEN THE INHABITANTS OF JABESH-GILEAD HEARD_] This act of the men of Jabesh-gilead was an act of gratitude due to Saul, who, at the very commencement of his reign, rescued them from Nahash, king of the Ammonites, (see 1 Samuel 11:1, c.,) and by his timely succours saved them from the deepest degradation and the most oppressive tyranny. This heroic act, with the seven days' _fast_, showed that they retained a due sense of their obligation to this unfortunate monarch....

WHEN THE INHABITANTS OF JABESH-GILEAD HEARD ... - See 1 Samuel 11:1. This is a touching and rare example of national gratitude....

DEFEAT AND DEATH OF SAUL (1 Samuel 31:1.). EXPOSITION SAUL AND HIS SONS SLAIN (1 Samuel 31:1). 1 SAMUEL 31:1, 1 SAMUEL 31:2 THE PHILISTINES FOUGHT. Literally it is a participle present, "the Philistines are warring," as if it were a mere resumption of 1 Samuel 28:1. In the battle fou

AND THE INHABITANTS OF JABESHGILEAD,.... Who lived on the other side Jordan, about eight miles from Bethshan, according to Fuller p: HEARD OF THAT WHICH THE PHILISTINES HAD DONE TO SAUL; not only that they had got the victory over him, and routed his army, but had abused his body, and hung it up by way of reproach and ignominy; which they could not bear to hear of, remembering with gratitude the kindness he had shown to them, in delivering them out of the hands of Nahash the Ammonite, 1 Samuel 11:1. p Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, b. 2. ch. 2. p. 82....

9. THE DEATH OF SAUL CHAPTER 31 _ 1. Saul wounded in battle (1 Samuel 31:1)_ 2. Saul a suicide (1 Samuel 31:4) 3. The victorious Philistines (1 Samuel 31:7) 4. The bodies recovered and burnt (1 Samuel 31:11) A sad ending to one of the saddest stories of the Bible. Jonathan, Abinadab and Melchi-shua, Saul's sons, fall first. Then Saul is wounded. He asks his armour bearer to make an end of his sufferings. There is no evidence whatever of his repentance and turning unto the Lord. He died as he had lived in rebellion against Jehovah. The armour-bearer refused to kill Saul; then he fell

1 SAMUEL 31. BATTLE OF GILBOA._ Cf._ p. 285, and 2 Samuel 1:6 *. 1 SAMUEL 31:1. Israel was routed, Saul's sons slain, and he himself in danger of being taken prisoner. To avoid this he fell upon his own sword. 3. HE WAS GREATLY DISTRESSED: perhaps read, with LXX, he was wounded by the archers. 1 Samuel 31:4. and thrust me through (_second occurrence) :_ omit with 1 Chronicles 10:4. What Saul fears is not mutilation after death, but being taken alive, and, like Samson, being made to provide sport for the Philistines....

TO. about....

The burial of Saul and his Sons 9. _they cut off his head_ The Anointed of Jehovah fares no better than the uncircumcised Goliath, now that God has forsaken him. _to publish it_ TO PUBLISH THE GOOD NEWS. Sept. εὐαγγελίζοντες. Cp. 2 Samuel 1:20. _in the house of their idols_ In the temples of their idols, which were regarded as the givers of the victory. Cp. ch. 1 Samuel 5:2. Chron. reads "to carry tidings _to their idols_....