I forgot to note this and did not want to leave it out. I had just read this story not long ago in 1 Samuel and never really put two and two together as to why they came and took the bodies down.
I love the way the people of Jabesh-gilead remembered someone at death who had helped them along the way. Makes me thing I need to be careful to do the same....remember those who encouraged me, loved me when I was unlovely and rescued me when life was desperate. Thank God for those people!