Chapter 10

Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. (1 Chronicles 10:2)

Tragically, the judgement of God against their father Saul had an effect on Saul's sons as well. Jonathan, a valiant and honourable man, passed away in the same honourable manner in which he had lived: by battling to the last for his God, his nation, and his father.

¹¹ And when all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all the valiant men arose and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons; and they brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days. (1 Chronicles 10:11-12)

The men of Jabesh Gilead reciprocate the kindness that God showed them via the hand of Saul years ago when Saul saved their city from the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:1-11). David, upon ascending to the throne, was correct in expressing his gratitude to these brave men for the generosity they had shown to the memory of Saul, Jonathan, and the other sons of Saul (2 Samuel 2:4-7).