Neville Goddard on 1 Samuel 31:11-13 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 1 Samuel 31 in context

Scripture Focus

11And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;

12All 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.

13And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

1 Samuel 31:11-13

Biblical Context

The inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead hear what happened to Saul, and at night they go out, retrieve his body and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, burn them there, bury the bones under a tree in Jabesh, and fast seven days.

Neville's Inner Vision

This narrative unfolds as a study in states of consciousness. The people’s night ascent is not merely a physical journey but a deliberate shift from fear to loyal, unified purpose. By recovering Saul’s body and the bodies of his sons, they reclaim a sense of rightful authority within the collective mind, turning calamity into deliberate acts of honor. The burning of the evidence—an act of purification—symbolically releases the memory from paralysis, while burying the bones under a tree marks a seed of renewal planted in communal remembrance. Seven days of fasting codify a disciplined attention, a sustained inner agreement that a higher order of kingship and unity is possible. The event suggests that the kingdom of God is as much the product of shared inner states as of outward ritual; when a community aligns in vision, courage, and reverence, reality itself can shift to reflect that higher image.

Practice This Now

Imaginative Act: For seven days, assume the state of Jabesh-Gilead—united, courageous, honoring your inner king. Each day, imagine retrieving the inner Saul from the wall of Bethshan, burning away fear, burying the old bones under a tree of remembrance, and fasting in gratitude to make the new state real.