All the valiant men: this refers to the most courageous warriors, who were usually involved in military matters. Others translate “all the warriors” (Revised English Bible, New American Bible). See also comments on “man of valor” in 1 Sam 16.18.
Arose: on the use of this verb in series with another action verb, see the comments at 9.3 and on page 20 and following.
They came: the Hebrew leaves implicit that the men “came with the bodies of Saul and his sons.” The Septuagint says that they “brought them” (followed by Revised English Bible). Many translations use the verb “brought” rather than came; and it is not clear whether they are following the Septuagint or only making explicit what is implicit in the Hebrew.
The verb “to burn” is also used for burning spices for a dead person when the person is buried (see 2 Chr 16.14; Jer 34.5). Because cremation was not a common practice in Israel, and because no reason is given in the text for the burning of these bodies, some interpreters understand the Hebrew verb to mean that the bodies were “anointed with spices” rather than “burned.” New English Bible, for example, says “and anointed them there with spices.” Lack of the preposition “for” in Hebrew makes the New English Bible interpretation unlikely, and Revised English Bible reverts to “burned them.” Moffatt says “they lamented over them [the bodies] there.” However, given the amount of time that must have passed between the deaths in battle and the time when the bodies were returned to Jabesh, the action of burning may have been merely to protect the health and welfare of the inhabitants of the city.
The continuing loyalty of the people of Jabesh to Saul may explain why the region of Gilead later supported Saul’s son, Ishbosheth, rather than David (2 Sam 2.8-10). The march from Jabesh northwest to Beth Shan covered a distance of fifteen kilometers (or about ten miles).
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .