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 Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
Ver. 12. And went all night.] To rescue his dead body, as he had marched all night to rescue them from the Ammonites.
And burnt them there.] Erant enim putrida corpora, plena vermibus, saith Vatablus; for their bodies were now putrified, by hanging long in the sun and air, full of vermin. They burnt them therefore with sweet odours, as 2 Chronicles 16:14, and as was usual with the heathens, as may be seen in Virgil -
“ Ingentem struxere pyram, &c. ” - Aen., lib. vi.