”And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.“
1 Samuel 31:11-13 KJV
The people of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul. Their valiant men sprang into action. They traveled all night, took the corpses of Saul and his three sons from the wall at Beth Shan, and carried them back to Jabesh and burned off the flesh. They then buried the bones under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted in mourning for seven days. Saul had earlier rescued Jabesh Gilead from the Amalekites. In gratitude they showed their respect to Saul & Jonathan, in their devastating defeat from the Philistines. But it was David who when he became king, blessed the Jabesh Gileadites for this deed and gave a proper burial to the bones of Saul and Jonathan even though Saul chased David till the end. David foreshadowed what Jesus modelled. Never retaliate when someone treats you wrongly, nor insult those who insult you, but instead, respond by speaking a blessing over them—because a blessing is what God promised to give you. Amen!
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