Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Samuel 31:12

"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." — 1 Samuel 31:12 (ASV)

Burnt them - Burning was not the usual mode of burial among the Hebrews. But in this case, from a pious desire to disguise the mutilation of the headless corpses and protect them from any possible future insult, the men of Jabesh burned the bodies, while still preserving the bones (1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 21:12).