Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.
verse value 4228
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 61 letters. The shortest word is "in·mountain·of" (בְּהַ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·the·Philistines" (וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 132: and·they·fled, and·they·fell. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "slain" (חֲלָלִ֖ים). The root פלשתי appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "man" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel); "and·the·Philistines" (root פלשתי, 124x in I Samuel); "against·Israel" (root ישראל, 102x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'against·Israel', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 9 words. Full calculation: וּפְלִשְׁתִּ֖ים [and·the·Philistines] (866) + נִלְחָמִ֣ים [fighting] (178) + בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל [against·Israel] (543) + וַיָּנֻ֜סוּ [and·they·fled] (132) + אַנְשֵׁ֤י [man] (361) + יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ [Israel] (541) + מִפְּנֵ֣י [from·face·of] (180) + פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים [the·Philistines] (860) + וַיִּפְּל֥וּ [and·they·fell] (132) + חֲלָלִ֖ים [slain] (118) + בְּהַ֥ר [in·mountain·of] (207) + הַגִּלְבֹּֽעַ [Gilboa] (110) = 4228.
Rashi
And the Philistines were fighting with Israel. Like a person who says: Let us return to the first matter.
Metzudat David
"And the Philistines were fighting." This is as if to say: Let us return to the first matter.
Malbim
And "Philistia" refers to the aforementioned matter, and the verse relates that the might of Israel was broken, for they did not fight at all but immediately fled, and through this there fell slain, as it is said, "for the beginning of a downfall is flight."
And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.
verse value 5783
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 69 letters. The shortest word is "son" (בְּנֵ֥י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Malchishua" (וְאֶת־מַלְכִּישׁ֖וּעַ, 10 letters). Words sharing gematria 860: the·Philistines, the·Philistines. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "Jonathan" (אֶת־יְהוֹנָתָ֧ן), "and·Abinadab" (וְאֶת־אֲבִינָדָ֛ב), "and·Malchishua" (וְאֶת־מַלְכִּישׁ֖וּעַ). The root פלשתי appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "the·Philistines" (root פלשתי, 124x in I Samuel); "son" (root בן, 69x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·his·sons', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיַּדְבְּק֣וּ [and·they·clung] (128) + פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים [the·Philistines] (860) + אֶת־שָׁא֖וּל [Saul] (738) + וְאֶת־בָּנָ֑יו [and·his·sons] (475) + וַיַּכּ֣וּ [and·they·smote] (42) + פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים [the·Philistines] (860) + אֶת־יְהוֹנָתָ֧ן [Jonathan] (922) + וְאֶת־אֲבִינָדָ֛ב [and·Abinadab] (476) + וְאֶת־מַלְכִּישׁ֖וּעַ [and·Malchishua] (883) + בְּנֵ֥י [son] (62) + שָׁאֽוּל [Saul] (337) = 5783.
Radak
"And they cleaved" (וידבקו). Like "they caused to cleave" (וידביקו); and similarly, "they bend their tongue" (וידרכו את לשונם) means the sense of attainment. And these three sons of Saul mentioned here are those who went out with him to war; therefore they died with him. And Ish-bosheth remained at home, for he did not go out to war.
Metzudat Zion
And they overtook. They reached them, until they clung to them.
Malbim
"And they followed hard" — for Saul fought with great might, and therefore it did not write "and they overtook."
And the battle went sore against Saul, an the archers overtook him; and he was in great anguish by reason of the archers.
verse value 3030
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "very" (מְאֹ֖ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·found·him" (וַיִּמְצָאֻ֥הוּ, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "and·they·found·him" (וַיִּמְצָאֻ֥הוּ), "the·archers" (הַמּוֹרִ֖ים), "in·the·bow" (בַּקָּ֑שֶׁת). The root ירה appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "against·Saul" (root איל, 238x in I Samuel); "man" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel); "and·they·found·him" (root מצא, 39x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·bow', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַתִּכְבַּ֤ד [and·it·was·heavy] (432) + הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ [battle] (128) + אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל [against·Saul] (368) + וַיִּמְצָאֻ֥הוּ [and·they·found·him] (158) + הַמּוֹרִ֖ים [the·archers] (301) + אֲנָשִׁ֣ים [man] (401) + בַּקָּ֑שֶׁת [in·the·bow] (802) + וַיָּ֥חֶל [and·twisted] (54) + מְאֹ֖ד [very] (45) + מֵהַמּוֹרִֽים [from·the·archers] (341) = 3030.
Radak
"The archers." Men shooting with the bow. The Targum: the archers, men skilled to shoot with the bow.
"And he was sore afraid." A matter of trembling and fear, for they had not yet wounded him, but he was afraid of them.
Metzudat David
Regarding Saul: For his sons had already been killed, and the entire course of the battle was directed against him alone.
The shooters, men with the bow. Like men who shoot with the bow, and he wished to say: that they found the place where he was hidden, and he feared them lest they mock him:
Metzudat Zion
The archers. Those shooting arrows, similarly (above 20:36): 'who I am shooting'.
And he was terrified. From the word 'fear' and 'dismay'.
Malbim
“And the battle went sore” – after his sons had died, the battle became heavy upon him alone. Moreover, the archers found him; the archers shot from afar, and he was also struck by arrows. The term “archers” (הַמֹּרִים) refers to men, i.e., men who shoot or men skilled in archery, like men of the bow.
Then said Saul to his armour-bearer: ‘Draw your sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and make a mock of me.’ But his armour-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it.
verse value 5604
Insights
Verse structure: 25 words, 107 letters. The shortest word is "with·it" (בָ֗הּ, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·make·a·mock·of·me" (וְהִתְעַלְּלוּ־בִ֔י, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 370: and·pierce·me, and·they·will·pierce·me. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "lifting" (לְנֹשֵׂ֨א), "draw" (שְׁלֹ֥ף), "with·it" (בָ֗הּ). The root שאול appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 418x in I Samuel); "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "lest·come" (root בוא, 161x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'very', dividing the verse into phrases of 20 and 5 words.
Radak
“And they pierced me, and they mocked me.” “They pierced me” refers to their killing me with many piercings, out of vengeance and humiliation; and likewise, “and I mocked Egypt.” And any verb in the hitpa’el conjugation in this context denotes the very essence of that action, whatever the specific deed may be, whenever this verbal form appears. And the Targum renders “and they mocked me” as “and they deceived me,” a term denoting deception and humiliation; and likewise, “and I was in his eyes as one who deceives,” that is, as one who mocks.
Ralbag
Lest these uncircumcised men come and pierce me, and mock me. He was afraid that they would kill him with great cruelty because of the havoc he had wrought among them, and therefore he chose to die at the hands of those that loved him.
And Saul took the sword and fell upon it. It seems from this place that the Amalekite lied when he said to David that he had already slain Saul; rather, he said this in order to find favor in David’s eyes, for he knew of Saul’s hatred of David. It is possible that Saul did not die by falling on his sword, but that this Amalekite sojourner finished slaying him, as he related to David. And this is more accurate, according to my opinion.
Metzudat David
And pierce me with it. He means to say: the piercing of death:
"and they pierced me, and mocked me." This means: The piercings are painful, and yet I remain alive, and they mock me.
For he feared. He feared the Lord, to stretch out a hand against His anointed:
"And he fell upon her." To kill himself.
Metzudat Zion
Draw. A matter of drawing the sword from its sheath, similarly (above 17:51): 'and he drew it from its sheath'.
And pierce me. A matter of piercing, similarly (Zechariah 12:10): 'whom they have pierced'.
And they mock. A matter of mockery, derision, and contempt, similarly (Numbers 22:29): 'you have mocked me'.
And he refused. And he did not want.
Malbim
Lest they come, meaning that they will pierce me and also mock me, and his intention is that if they were to mock me but not kill me, one might say that a life of suffering is preferable to death; and likewise, if they were to pierce me and kill me, it is better that I not harm myself. But since it is certain that they will kill me, and moreover, before that they will also mock me, it is better that I die without suffering and disgrace. And he fell upon it: behold, it will be explained below that he did not die by the fall, but rather became a goses (one on the verge of death). And regarding this he said, "for Saul is dead," meaning that he had received a mortal wound, and nevertheless his soul was still within him, and the Amalekite youth completed his death.
Cross-references: I Samuel 9:7; II Samuel 1:1; II Samuel 1:9; II Samuel 1:10
And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died with him.
verse value 2510
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "that" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "bearer·of·his·armor" (נֹשֵֽׂא־כֵלָ֖יו, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "bearer·of·his·armor" (נֹשֵֽׂא־כֵלָ֖יו), "upon·his·sword" (עַל־חַרְבּ֖וֹ). The root מות appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "that" (root כי, 161x in I Samuel); "with" (root עם, 128x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Saul', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֥רְא [and·saw] (217) + נֹשֵֽׂא־כֵלָ֖יו [bearer·of·his·armor] (417) + כִּ֣י [that] (30) + מֵ֣ת [died] (440) + שָׁא֑וּל [Saul] (337) + וַיִּפֹּ֥ל [and·fell] (126) + גַּם־ה֛וּא [also·he] (55) + עַל־חַרְבּ֖וֹ [upon·his·sword] (316) + וַיָּ֥מׇת [and·he·died] (456) + עִמּֽוֹ [with] (116) = 2510.
Radak
“Because Saul is dead.” He was close to death, as it says, “when his soul departed,” for he was not yet dead until the Amalekite killed him, as the latter stated in his report to David. It is also possible that the Amalekite lied, for he did not kill him but rather found him dead after he had fallen on his sword. In order to find favor in David’s eyes, according to his own calculation, he spoke thus. And Saul did not sin by killing himself. Even though it is written, “But from your own hand I will require your blood,” meaning that I will demand it from you if you kill yourselves, and likewise I will demand it from every beast, and from man for the blood of his brother—nevertheless, he did not sin. For Saul knew that his end was to die in battle, for so Samuel had said to him. Moreover, he saw that the archers had found him, and he could not escape their hands. It was better that he kill himself than that the uncircumcised mock him. And so our Sages of blessed memory said: “But from your own hand I will require your blood”—one might think this includes a case like Saul’s; therefore the verse states, “But,” to exclude such a case.
Metzudat David
"Ki met" – He meant to say: He is near to death, for the son of an Amalekite proselyte had already completed his death, as it is written in II Samuel (1:10):
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armour-bearer, and all his men, that same day together.
verse value 2883
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 46 letters. The shortest word is "also" (גַּ֧ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·his·men" (כׇּל־אֲנָשָׁ֛יו, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "all·his·men" (כׇּל־אֲנָשָׁ֛יו). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "all·his·men" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel); "in·the·day" (root יום, 154x in I Samuel). Full calculation: וַיָּ֣מׇת [and·he·died] (456) + שָׁא֡וּל [Saul] (337) + וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת [and·three] (1036) + בָּנָיו֩ [his·sons] (68) + וְנֹשֵׂ֨א [and·lifting] (357) + כֵלָ֜יו [his·armor] (66) + גַּ֧ם [also] (43) + כׇּל־אֲנָשָׁ֛יו [all·his·men] (417) + בַּיּ֥וֹם [in·the·day] (58) + הַה֖וּא [that] (17) + יַחְדָּֽו [together] (28) = 2883.
Radak
“Also all his men.” Those who were attached to him in his battle died on Mount Gilboa, and the rest fled.
And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
verse value 7331
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 104 letters. The shortest word is "in·them" (בָּהֶֽן, 3 letters) and the longest is "men·of·Israel" (אַנְשֵֽׁי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל, 9 letters). 10 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "men·of·Israel" (אַנְשֵֽׁי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל), "that·in·beyond" (אֲשֶׁר־בְּעֵ֨בֶר), "valley" (הָעֵ֜מֶק). The root איש appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·that" (root אשר, 229x in I Samuel); "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "men·of·Israel" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·his·sons', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 7 words.
Radak
“Which are beyond the valley, and which are beyond the Jordan.” Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated: “Which are beyond the plain.” And the explanation is: the cities that were beyond the plain adjacent to the land of the Philistines, and likewise beyond the Jordan, the places adjacent to the Jordan and adjacent to the land of the Philistines. There were no fortified cities in them, and they abandoned them.
Metzudat David
“Beyond the valley.” It is the Valley of Jezreel, which was adjacent to the place of the battle:
Malbim
"For they have fled" means to say that there is no longer any hope, neither in the might of the people, for they have fled, nor in the king that he will gather them again, for Saul and his sons have died.
And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
verse value 5470
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 68 letters. The shortest word is "in·mountain·of" (בְּהַ֥ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "the·slain" (אֶת־הַחֲלָלִ֑ים, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "to·strip" (לְפַשֵּׁ֖ט), "the·slain" (אֶת־הַחֲלָלִ֑ים), "and·three·of" (וְאֶת־שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·was" (root היה, 167x in I Samuel); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 161x in I Samuel); "the·Philistines" (root פלשתי, 124x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·slain', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַֽיְהִי֙ [and·it·was] (31) + מִֽמׇּחֳרָ֔ת [from·next·day] (688) + וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ [and·they·came] (25) + פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים [the·Philistines] (860) + לְפַשֵּׁ֖ט [to·strip] (419) + אֶת־הַחֲלָלִ֑ים [the·slain] (524) + וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ [and·they·found] (153) + אֶת־שָׁאוּל֙ [Saul] (738) + וְאֶת־שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת [and·three·of] (1437) + בָּנָ֔יו [his·sons] (68) + נֹפְלִ֖ים [fallen] (210) + בְּהַ֥ר [in·mountain·of] (207) + הַגִּלְבֹּֽעַ [Gilboa] (110) = 5470.
Metzudat Zion
To strip. To remove their garments, similarly (Leviticus 6:4): 'and he shall strip his garments'.
Falling. He means falling on the ground as dead bodies.
And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings to the house of their idols, and to the people.
verse value 5698
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "house·of" (בֵּ֥ית, 3 letters) and the longest is "into·the·land·of·the·Philistines" (בְאֶֽרֶץ־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים, 10 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "into·the·land·of·the·Philistines" (בְאֶֽרֶץ־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים), "to·announce" (לְבַשֵּׂ֛ר), "their·idols" (עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֖ם). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "house·of" (root בית, 75x in I Samuel); "and·sent" (root שלח, 65x in I Samuel); "into·the·land·of·the·Philistines" (root ארץ, 44x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·armour', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַֽיִּכְרְתוּ֙ [and·cut] (642) + אֶת־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ [his·head] (908) + וַיַּפְשִׁ֖טוּ [and·stripped·off] (411) + אֶת־כֵּלָ֑יו [his·armour] (467) + וַיְשַׁלְּח֨וּ [and·sent] (360) + בְאֶֽרֶץ־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֜ים [into·the·land·of·the·Philistines] (1153) + סָבִ֗יב [round·about] (74) + לְבַשֵּׂ֛ר [to·announce] (532) + בֵּ֥ית [house·of] (412) + עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֖ם [their·idols] (217) + וְאֶת־הָעָֽם [and·the·people] (522) = 5698.
Radak
“His vessels.” What did they find with him? His garments and his weapons, for the Amalekite had taken the crown and the bracelet.
Metzudat Zion
His armor. His garments and weapons.
And they sent. Their messengers.
To the house of their idols. The people of the house of idol worship called 'idols,' for they sadden the heart of their worshippers, who cry out to them and they do not answer.
Malbim
"To proclaim to their idols, to give thanks to their idol:"
And they put his armour in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
verse value 5253
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "Shan" (שָֽׁן, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·his·body" (וְאֶת־גְּוִיָּתוֹ֙, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 412: house·of, Beth. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "and·put" (וַיָּשִׂ֙ימוּ֙), "Ashtaroth" (עַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת), "and·his·body" (וְאֶת־גְּוִיָּתוֹ֙). The root בית appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "house·of" (root בית, 75x in I Samuel); "his·armour" (root כלי, 30x in I Samuel); "and·put" (root שום, 27x in I Samuel). First appearance of the root גויה ("and·his·body") in I Samuel. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Ashtaroth', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיָּשִׂ֙ימוּ֙ [and·put] (372) + אֶת־כֵּלָ֔יו [his·armour] (467) + בֵּ֖ית [house·of] (412) + עַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת [Ashtaroth] (1376) + וְאֶת־גְּוִיָּתוֹ֙ [and·his·body] (832) + תָּֽקְע֔וּ [they·fastened] (576) + בְּחוֹמַ֖ת [in·wall·of] (456) + בֵּ֥ית [Beth] (412) + שָֽׁן [Shan] (350) = 5253.
Radak
“House of Astarte, their gods.” These are the idols of Astarte, which were their gods; they were images fashioned in the likeness of Astarte, as it says, “the young of thy flock” (Deuteronomy 7:13). In Chronicles it is written “house of their gods,” and these were the Astartes that were their gods.
“And they hung his corpse on the wall of Beth-shan.” “They hung it” [means] with nails. In the Book of Chronicles it is written, “And they hung his skull at the house of Dagon.” What is not mentioned here is mentioned there, for both things occurred: they hung his corpse on the wall of Beth-shan, and his skull at the house of Dagon. For they indeed cut off his head, as it is stated, “And they cut off his head.” And there it says, “And they took his head and his armor.” In saying “his corpse,” the text is abbreviated, for they also hung the corpses of his sons on the wall of Beth-shan.
Metzudat Zion
Ashtaroth. The name of some idol.
His corpse. His body, similarly (Daniel 10:6): 'and his body like beryl'.
They hung. They hung, [they hanged] similarly (Numbers 25:4): 'and hang them before the LORD'.
Malbim
"Beth-Ashtaroth" is a house of idolatry fashioned in the likeness of Ashtaroth. This is because in the verse (I Chronicles 10:10) it states, "And they put his armour in the house of their gods," and there it says, "And they set his skull in the house of Dagon," in such a way that corresponding to what was said, to proclaim it, "They placed his utensils in the house of their gods," they placed there his utensils and his head. And they wished to recall that the head of Dagon was cut off due to the Ark of the God of Israel, and behold, now the head of their king, which was cut off, was found in the house of Dagon. And corresponding to what was said, "To proclaim to the people," they impaled and crucified his corpse on the wall of Beth-shan.
And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him that which the Philistines had done to Saul,
verse value 3735
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "concerning·him" (אֵלָ֔יו, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·they·heard" (וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 322: dwelling, Jabesh. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "which·they·did" (root אשר, 229x in I Samuel); "to·Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "Philistines" (root פלשתי, 124x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Gilead', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 4 words.
Rashi
And they listened to him. Like 'upon him' — upon Sha'ul.
Radak
“And they listened to him.” Just as it says “upon him,” and in Targum Jonathan it reads: “and they heard upon him.”
Metzudat David
"And they hearkened unto him." Just as it says "upon him," and it goes on to explain what the Philistines did to Saul, namely, to nail his corpse to the wall.
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 Beth-shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
verse value 5941
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 82 letters. Verse gematria: 5941 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "Shan" (שָׁ֑ן, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·night" (כׇל־הַלַּ֒יְלָה֒, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 130: all·the·night, and·took. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "the·body·of" (אֶת־גְּוִיַּ֣ת), "a·body" (גְּוִיֹּ֣ת), "from·wall·of" (מֵחוֹמַ֖ת). The root גויה appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Saul" (root שאול, 226x in I Samuel); "all·man" (root איש, 201x in I Samuel); "and·they·came" (root בוא, 161x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Shan', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 5 words.
Rashi
And they burned them there. Translation: And they burned upon them as they burn over kings there — as we learned (Avodah Zarah 11a): They burn for kings, and not from the ways of the Amorites.
Radak
"And they burned them there." The Targum translates: "And they burned over them, as they burn over kings there." It is possible that his intention was as our Sages of blessed memory wrote, that they burn the belongings of kings, and what do they burn for them? Their beds and their utensils of pleasure. Or perhaps his intention refers to the burning of spices, like "the physicians embalmed them." And it is possible to explain that they burned the flesh, which had bred maggots, and they did not wish to bury them with the worms, for it was not a way of honor; rather, they burned the flesh and buried the bones.
Metzudat David
"And they burned them." This refers to the flesh, saying that because it had become putrid and maggots had appeared in it, they burned it; or it refers to the utensils used by him, for such is the custom to burn the utensils of a king, lest another make use of them, and so our Sages of blessed memory said: "They burn [the utensils] for kings."
Malbim
"And they burned them" – the commentators explain that they burned them, as is done for kings, or that they embalmed them with sharp spices that burn the flesh with their pungency.
And they took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
verse value 3997
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 45 letters. The shortest word is "seven" (שִׁבְעַ֥ת, 4 letters) and the longest is "their·bones" (אֶת־עַצְמֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם, 9 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in I Samuel. Unique to this verse in I Samuel (hapax): "their·bones" (אֶת־עַצְמֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם), "and·they·buried" (וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ), "in·Jabesh" (בְּיָבֵ֑שָׁה). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "days" (root יום, 154x in I Samuel); "and·took" (root לקח, 78x in I Samuel); "seven" (root שבע, 24x in I Samuel). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·Jabesh', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְחוּ֙ [and·took] (130) + אֶת־עַצְמֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם [their·bones] (1056) + וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ [and·they·buried] (324) + תַחַת־הָאֶ֖שֶׁל [under·the·tamarisk] (1144) + בְּיָבֵ֑שָׁה [in·Jabesh] (319) + וַיָּצֻ֖מוּ [and·they·abstained·from·food] (152) + שִׁבְעַ֥ת [seven] (772) + יָמִֽים [days] (100) = 3997.
Radak
"Under the eshel." And in Chronicles, "under the terebinth." Eshel is a general term for any tree; and so "and he planted an eshel," as its Targum renders, "and he planted a plantation." And in Chronicles it explained that this tree was a terebinth.
"And they fasted for seven days." This serves as a remembrance of those seven days during which the Ammonite serpent [i.e., Nahash the Ammonite] granted them a period of time, and during that same time they were saved through Saul. Therefore, the men of Jabesh engaged in this [fasting], for they remembered that salvation with which they were saved through him.
Metzudat David
"And they fasted." Due to sorrow and mourning, because they had aided them in battle against the children of Ammon, as it is written above (Chapter 11):
Metzudat Zion
The tamarisk. The name of some tree.
And they fasted. They fasted.
Malbim
“Under the tamarisk” – this is the generic name for trees; and in Chronicles it says “under the terebinth,” indicating that this tamarisk was a terebinth tree.
Rashi
Metzudat David
Malbim