8 And it cometh to pass on the morrow, that the Philistines come to strip the wounded, and they find Saul and his three sons fallen on mount Gilboa, 9 and they cut off his head, and strip off his weapons, and send into the land of the Philistines round about, to proclaim tidings 'in' the house of their idols, and 'among' the people; 10 and they place his weapons 'in' the house of Ashtaroth, and his body they have fixed on the wall of Beth-Shan. 11 And they hear regarding it—the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead—that which the Philistines have done to Saul, 12 and all the men of valour arise, and go all the night, and take the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, from the wall of Beth-Shan, and come in to Jabesh, and burn them there, 13 and they take their bones, and bury 'them' under the tamarisk in Jabesh, and fast seven days.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 31:8-13
Commentary on 1 Samuel 31:8-13
(Read 1 Samuel 31:8-13)
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.