שמואל א, פרק ל״א, פסוק י״ב

The men of Jabesh-gilead embark on a daring night mission across the Jordan River to rescue the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. They feel secure executing this bold operation because their own city is situated safely far away on the other side of the Jordan [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Upon returning with the bodies, a fire is prepared. The primary approach among commentators is that the men did not actually burn the bodies themselves. Instead, they lit a large bonfire or burned specific items as a traditional sign of honor for a deceased king. This custom involved burning the king's bed and personal belongings to ensure that no one else would ever use them [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. This act is an accepted Jewish tradition for honoring royalty and is not considered a forbidden imitation of foreign customs [רש״י].

Another perspective suggests that the fire was part of a respectful preparation of the remains. This could have involved burning fragrant spices around the dead, or treating them with intense, sharp spices that effectively burned the flesh as part of an embalming process [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

However, an alternative opinion maintains that the bodies were indeed burned. Because Saul and his sons had been left hanging exposed on the city wall, their flesh had begun to rot and attract worms. To avoid the severe disgrace of burying a king and his sons in such a decaying state, the men made the difficult decision to burn away the ruined flesh. Afterward, they were able to provide a dignified burial for the remaining bones [רד״ק, מצודת דוד].