2 Samuel 2:5

5 misit ergo David nuntios ad viros Iabesgalaad dixitque ad eos benedicti vos Domino qui fecistis misericordiam hanc cum domino vestro Saul et sepelistis eum

2 Samuel 2:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 2:5

And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead
To return them thanks for their courage and boldness in rescuing the bodies of Saul and his sons out of the hands of the Philistines, and for their civility in the burial of them:

and said unto them, blessed [be] ye of the Lord;
which may be considered either as a wish, the Lord bless you for it, or as a prediction, the Lord will bless you:

that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, [even] unto Saul,
and have buried him.
To bury the dead, with the Jews, was always reckoned an instance of humanity and kindness, and indeed of piety; an act done in imitation of God ^F26, who buried Moses, and so it might be expected the divine blessing would attend it.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F26 T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 32. 2. and Sotah, fol. 14. 1.

2 Samuel 2:5 In-Context

3 sed et viros qui erant cum eo duxit David singulos cum domo sua et manserunt in oppidis Hebron

4 veneruntque viri Iuda et unxerunt ibi David ut regnaret super domum Iuda et nuntiatum est David quod viri Iabesgalaad sepelissent Saul

5 misit ergo David nuntios ad viros Iabesgalaad dixitque ad eos benedicti vos Domino qui fecistis misericordiam hanc cum domino vestro Saul et sepelistis eum

6 et nunc retribuet quidem vobis Dominus misericordiam et veritatem sed et ego reddam gratiam eo quod feceritis verbum istud

7 confortentur manus vestrae et estote filii fortitudinis licet enim mortuus sit dominus vester Saul tamen me unxit domus Iuda regem sibi