Definition: 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.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this Bible verse together. It’s a pretty dramatic scene! Here's what it means in plain English: The Basic Story: This verse describes a very tense moment in the story of Samuel, a judge in Israel. It tells us that after a big argument and a lot of fighting, the men from Israel, led by Saul (a prominent leader), decided to do something very drastic – they took the bodies of Saul's family members (his sons and all his children) from a wall in a fortress called Bethshan. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “All the valiant men arose…” : This means there was a large group of people, likely warriors, who decided to act decisively. “Valiant” implies they were brave and determined. “…and went all night…” : They spent an entire night working at the wall. That’s a long time! “…took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan…” : This is the core action – they took the bodies of Saul's family members completely . It was a very significant act of taking something important. “…and came to Jabesh…” : They traveled to a place called Jabesh, which is a fortified area. “…and burnt them there.” : They set the bodies on fire. This was a terrible and symbolic action – it meant they were destroying the remains of Saul’s family, signifying their death and the end of their lives. What's the Significance? This event is significant because it’s the reason Samuel had to go to Bethshan. It's a key moment that led to a major conflict in the story. The Bible says this was a very bad thing, and it shows how angry Israel was with Saul for disobeying God's commands. In short: They took the bodies of Saul’s family members from a wall in Bethshan, and then burned them there as a warning to Saul. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Discuss what this story might mean in terms of faith or human nature? Give you a different perspective on the event (e.g., from Saul's point of view)?