II Samuel 21
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Then there was a famine - Of this famine we know nothing; it is not mentioned in any part of the history of David. Because he slew the Gibeonites - No such fact is mentioned in the life and transactions of Saul; nor is there any reference to it in any other part of Scripture.
Open source ↗THE THREE YEARS' FAMINE FOR THE GIBEONITES CEASE BY HANGING SEVEN OF SAUL'S SONS. (Sa2 21:1-9) the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites--The sacred history has not recorded either the time or the reason of this massacre. Some think that they were sufferers in the atrocity perpetrated by Saul at Nob (Sa1 22:19), where many of them may have resided as attendants of the priests; while others suppose it more probable that the attempt was made afterwards, with a view to regain the popularity he had lost throughout the nation by that execrable outrage.
Open source ↗Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year,.... That is, three years running, one after another; some think this, though here related, was before the rebellions of Absalom and Sheba, and not after, and there are several things which may incline to it, as that the sin of Saul should otherwise be so long unpunished, and that the bones of Saul and Jonathan were not sooner removed, here related; and that there should be so many battles the Philistines after they were subdued, as recorded in this chapter; and in one of the Jewish (e) writings it is said, that this was the year after Saul was slain; though, in other copies of the same book, it is said to be thirty years after; and so in that Abarbinel used, and who is of the mind that what is here related stands in the order in which it was, and of the same opinion are some of our best chronologers (f): and David inquired of the Lord; before the high priest by Urim and Thummim, what should be the cause of the famine perhaps suspecting it was some sins of his; the first year he might take no notice of it, hoping for a more fruitful season the next year, it arising, as he might suppose, from some natural cause; the second year he might begin to think it was for some national sins, but might be remiss in his inquiry into them; but the third year he was alarmed, and concluded there was something extraordinary and special, and feared it was on his account, and this put him on making inquiry: and the Lord answered, it is for Saul, and for his bloody house; on account of the blood shed by him and his family; which answer must in a good measure relieve the mind of David, if he was fearful it was for his sins: because he slew the Gibeonites: which was contrary to the oath that Joshua and all Israel had g…
Open source ↗Three Years' Famine. - A three years' famine in the land, the occasion of which, as Jehovah declared to the king, was Saul's crime with regard to the Gibeonites, was expiated by David's delivering up to the Gibeonites, at their own request, seven of Saul's descendants, who were then hung by them upon a mountain before Jehovah. This occurrence certainly did not take place in the closing years of David's reign; on the other hand, it is evident from the remark in Sa2 21:7, to the effect that Mephibosheth was spared, that it happened after David had received tidings of Mephibosheth, and had taken him to his own table (Sa2 9:1-13). This is mentioned here as a practical illustration, on the one hand of the manner in which Jehovah visited upon the house of Saul, even after the death of Saul himself, a crime which had been committed by him; and, on the other hand, of the way in which, even in such a case as this, when David had been obliged to sacrifice the descendants of Saul to expiate the guilt of their father, he showed his tenderness towards him by the honourable burial of their bones. Sa2 21:1-6 A famine, which lasted for three successive years, induced David to seek the face of Jehovah, i.e., to approach God in prayer and ask the cause of this judgment which had fallen upon the land. The Lord replied, "Because of Saul, and because of the house of blood-guiltiness, because he hath slain the Gibeonites." The expression "because of the house of blood-guiltiness" is in apposition to "Saul," and determines the meaning more precisely: "because of Saul, and indeed because of the blood-guiltiness which rests upon his house." הדּמים בּית signifies the house upon which blood that had been shed still rested as guilt, like הדּמים עיר in Eze 22:2; Eze 24:6, Eze 24:9, and דּמים אישׁ i…
Open source ↗Here I. Were are told of the injury which Saul had, long before this, done to the Gibeonites, which we had no account of in the history of his reign, nor should we have heard of it here but that it came now to be reckoned for. The Gibeonites were of the remnant of the Amorites (Sa2 21:2), who by a stratagem had made peace with Israel, and had the public faith pledged to them by Joshua for their safety. We had the story Jos. 9, where it was agreed (v. 23) that they should have their lives secured, but be deprived of their lands and liberties, that they and theirs should be tenants in villanage to Israel. It does not appear that they had broken their part of the covenant, either by denying their service or attempting to recover their lands or liberties; nor was this pretended; but Saul, under colour of zeal for the honour of Israel, that it might not be said that they had any of the natives among them, aimed to root them out, and, in order to that, slew many of them. Thus he would seem wiser than his predecessors the judges, and more zealous for the public interest; and perhaps he designed it for an instance of his royal prerogative and the power which as king he assumed to rescind the former acts of government and to disannul the most solemn leagues. It may be, he designed, by this severity towards the Gibeonites, to atone for his clemency towards the Amalekites. Some conjecture that he sought to cut off the Gibeonites at the same time when he put away the witches (Sa1 28:3), or perhaps many of them were remarkably pious, and he sought to destroy them when he slew the priests their masters. That which made this an exceedingly sinful sin was that he not only shed innocent blood, but therein violated the solemn oath by which the nation was bound to protect them. See what b…
Open source ↗21:1–24:25 The final chapters of 2 Samuel are a coda, a concluding section that summarizes the important themes from the preceding material. These chapters are thematic, not chronological, and not all the events described here happened at the end of David’s reign (e.g., 22:1). The materials are arranged according to a common Hebrew literary device, a chiasm (mirror-image): A: Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites and its collective punishment (21:1-14); B: David’s heroes and their exploits (21:15-22); C: David’s Psalm (22:1-51); C′: David’s Psalm (23:1-7); B′: David’s heroes and their exploits (23:8-39); A′: David’s sin against the census taboo and its collective punishment (24:1-25). A chiasm highlights the central section—here David’s hymns, which focus not on David but on David’s God. 21:1 asked the Lord: The Hebrew verb is the same as that used when David “begged” for the life of Bathsheba’s child (12:16). On these two occasions, “seeking” was in the desperation of a moment of crisis. However, most often in the Old Testament, “seeking God” refers not to a specific prayer of petition but to the dynamics of daily devotion and obedience to God (e.g., Pss 40:16; 105:4; Prov 28:5). • Saul and his family are guilty: The famine resulted from violating an oath taken before the Lord (Josh 9:19-20). • murdering the Gibeonites: This incident is not elsewhere recorded. Illicit bloodshed had polluted the land, making it sterile and unfruitful (cp. Gen 4:10-12; Num 35:30-34).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
רָעָב (râʻâb, H7458) — hunger (more or less extensive) יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… גִּבְעֹנִי (Gibʻônîy, H1393) — a Gibonite, or inhabitant of Gibon אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יֶתֶר (yether, H3499) — properly, an overhanging, i.e. (by implication) an excess, superiority, remainder; also a… אֱמֹרִי (ʼĔmôrîy, H567) — an Emorite, one of the Canaanitish tribes שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) קָנָא (qânâʼ, H7065) — to be (causatively, make) zealous, i.e. (in a bad sense) jealous or envious יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the…
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) גִּבְעֹנִי (Gibʻônîy, H1393) — a Gibonite, or inhabitant of Gibon עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application כָּפַר (kâphar, H3722) — to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or… בָרַךְ (bârak, H1288) — to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as… נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗גִּבְעֹנִי (Gibʻônîy, H1393) — a Gibonite, or inhabitant of Gibon אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) כֶּסֶף (keçeph, H3701) — silver (from its pale color); by implication, money זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky עִם (ʻim, H5973) — adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications;… שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… כָּלָה (kâlâh, H3615) — to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete,… דָּמָה (dâmâh, H1819) — to compare; by implication, to resemble, liken, consider שָׁמַד (shâmad, H8045) — to desolate יָצַב (yâtsab, H3320) — to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יָקַע (yâqaʻ, H3363) — properly, to sever oneself, i.e. (by implication) to be dislocated; figuratively, to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God גִּבְעָה (Gibʻâh, H1390) — Gibah; the name of three places in Palestine שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites בָּחִיר (bâchîyr, H972) — select מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king חָמַל (châmal, H2550) — to commiserate; by implication, to spare מְפִיבֹשֶׁת (Mᵉphîybôsheth, H4648) — Mephibosheth, the name of two Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יְהוֹנָתָן (Yᵉhôwnâthân, H3083) — Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שְׁבוּעָה (shᵉbûwʻâh, H7621) — properly, something sworn, i.e. an oath דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse
Open source ↗מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… רִצְפָּה (Ritspâh, H7532) — Ritspah, an Israelitess בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… אַיָּה (ʼAyâh, H345) — Ajah, the name of two Israelites יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites אַרְמֹנִי (ʼArmônîy, H764) — Armoni, an Israelite מְפִיבֹשֶׁת (Mᵉphîybôsheth, H4648) — Mephibosheth, the name of two Israelites חָמֵשׁ (châmêsh, H2568) — five מִיכָל (Mîykâl, H4324) — Mikal, Saul's daughter עַדְרִיאֵל (ʻAdrîyʼêl, H5741) — Adriel, an Israelite
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), גִּבְעֹנִי (Gibʻônîy, H1393) — a Gibonite, or inhabitant of Gibon יָקַע (yâqaʻ, H3363) — properly, to sever oneself, i.e. (by implication) to be dislocated; figuratively, to… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… שִׁבְעָתַיִם (shibʻâthayim, H7659) — seven-times יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… קָצִיר (qâtsîyr, H7105) — severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figuratively; also…
Open source ↗רִצְפָּה (Ritspâh, H7532) — Ritspah, an Israelitess בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… אַיָּה (ʼAyâh, H345) — Ajah, the name of two Israelites לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) שַׂק (saq, H8242) — properly, a mesh (as allowing a liquid to run through), i.e. coarse loose cloth or… נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… צוּר (tsûwr, H6697) — properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder;… תְּחִלָּה (tᵉchillâh, H8462) — a commencement; rel. original (adverb, -ly) קָצִיר (qâtsîyr, H7105) — severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figuratively; also… מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen נָתַךְ (nâthak, H5413) — to flow forth (literally or figuratively); by implication, to liquify שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) עוֹף (ʻôwph, H5775) — a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively
Open source ↗נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse רִצְפָּה (Ritspâh, H7532) — Ritspah, an Israelitess בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… אַיָּה (ʼAyâh, H345) — Ajah, the name of two Israelites פִּילֶגֶשׁ (pîylegesh, H6370) — a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) עֶצֶם (ʻetsem, H6106) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.)… שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites יְהוֹנָתָן (Yᵉhôwnâthân, H3083) — Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… בַּעַל (baʻal, H1167) — a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in… יָבֵשׁ (Yâbêsh, H3003) — Jobesh, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine גִּלְעָד (Gilʻâd, H1568) — Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites גָּנַב (gânab, H1589) — to thieve (literally or figuratively); by implication, to deceive רְחֹב (rᵉchôb, H7339) — a width, i.e. (concretely) avenue or area בֵּית שְׁאָן (Bêyth Shᵉʼân, H1052) — Beth-Shean or Beth-Shan, a place in Palestine פְּלִשְׁתִּי (Pᵉlishtîy, H6430) — a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth
Open source ↗עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… עֶצֶם (ʻetsem, H6106) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.)… שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites יְהוֹנָתָן (Yᵉhôwnâthân, H3083) — Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָסַף (ʼâçaph, H622) — to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave… יָקַע (yâqaʻ, H3363) — properly, to sever oneself, i.e. (by implication) to be dislocated; figuratively, to…
Open source ↗עֶצֶם (ʻetsem, H6106) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.)… שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites יְהוֹנָתָן (Yᵉhôwnâthân, H3083) — Jehonathan, the name of four Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… קָבַר (qâbar, H6912) — to inter אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) בִּנְיָמִין (Binyâmîyn, H1144) — Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory צֶלַע (Tselaʻ, H6762) — Tsela, a place in Palestine קֶבֶר (qeber, H6913) — a sepulchre קִישׁ (Qîysh, H7027) — Kish, the name of five Israelites אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.
Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.
So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver.
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed a seven-year famine, and it has already come to the land.”
He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria,
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”