2 Samuel 21:12

12 He then went and got the remains of Saul and Jonathan his son from the leaders at Jabesh Gilead (who had rescued them from the town square at Beth Shan where the Philistines had hung them after striking them down at Gilboa).

2 Samuel 21:12 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 21:12

And David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of
Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabeshgilead
Which, according to Bunting ^F20, was fifty two miles from Jerusalem; though perhaps David did not go thither in person to fetch them, but by his messengers, see ( 2 Samuel 21:14 ) ;

which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the
Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in
Gilboa;
the history of all which see in ( 1 Samuel 31:8-13 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F20 Travels p. 122, 143.

2 Samuel 21:12 In-Context

10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took rough burlap and spread it out for herself on a rock from the beginning of the harvest until the heavy rains started. She kept the birds away from the bodies by day and the wild animals by night.

11 David was told what she had done, this Rizpah daughter of Aiah and concubine of Saul.

12 He then went and got the remains of Saul and Jonathan his son from the leaders at Jabesh Gilead (who had rescued them from the town square at Beth Shan where the Philistines had hung them after striking them down at Gilboa).

13 He gathered up their remains and brought them together with the dead bodies of the seven who had just been hanged.

14 The bodies were taken back to the land of Benjamin and given a decent burial in the tomb of Kish, Saul's father. They did everything the king ordered to be done. That cleared things up: from then on God responded to Israel's prayers for the land.