SEV Biblia, Chapter 31:12
todos los hombres valientes se levantaron, y anduvieron toda aquella noche, y quitaron el cuerpo de Saúl y los cuerpos de sus hijos del muro de Bet-sán; y viniendo a Jabes, los quemaron allí.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 31:12
Verse 12. And 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, &c. 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 doubtless the bodies were now too putrid to bear it. They therefore burnt them, because there was no other way of disposing of them at that time so as to do them honour; and the bones and ashes they collected, and buried under a tree or in a grove at Jabesh.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. All the valiant men arose , etc.] Of the city of Jabeshgilead, fired with indignation at the Philistines’ ill usage of Saul and the bodies of his sons: and went all night ; not only for secrecy, but for haste: and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh ; brought them with them thither, the Philistines either having no knowledge of it, or not daring to oppose them: and burnt them there : that is, the flesh of them, for the bones they buried, as in ( 1 Samuel 31:13); and this they did, contrary to the common usage of the country, which was not to burn; but this they did, that if the Philistines should come to recover them, they would not be able to do it: though the Targum is, “they burnt over them, as they burn over their kings there;” they made a burning for them of spices over them; or of their beds, and other household goods, as Kimchi and Ben Melech observe, though they prefer the other sense; (see 2 Chronicles 16:14 21:19) perhaps the true reason might be, because they were putrid and infectious.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 thing 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 bodie 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, gran monuments, and he praises of men, honour the memory of the deceased the soul may be suffering in the regions of darkness and despair! Le us seek that honour which cometh from God only __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ויקומו 6965 כל 3605 אישׁ 376 חיל 2428 וילכו 1980 כל 3605 הלילה 3915 ויקחו 3947 את 853 גוית 1472 שׁאול 7586 ואת 853 גוית 1472 בניו 1121 מחומת 2346 בית שׁן 1052 ויבאו 935 יבשׁה 3003 וישׂרפו 8313 אתם 853 שׁם׃ 8033
