They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons - (see the note at 1 Samuel 31:12.) And buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh. The tree, which was called х haa'eeshel (H815)] the tamarisk, is said here to be х haa'eelaah (H424)] the oak. 'This discrepancy,' says Wilton ('Negeb,' pp. 195,
195), 'although formidable at first sight, is obviated by a consideration of the primary meaning of Elah. Derived from a root which imports strength, it generally denotes "the tree" or "the strong tree," while it applies specifically to the principal or characteristic tree of the particular region referred to.'