2 Samuel Chapter 21

David Avenges the Gibeonites

1Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. 2And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) 3Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? 4And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. 5And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, 6Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.

7But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 9And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

10And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 11And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa: 13And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. 14And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.

Four Battles against the Philistines

(1 Chronicles 20:4-8)

15Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. 16And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.

18And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant. 19And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 20And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him. 22These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

David Avenges the Gibeonites

1 There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.” 2 The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah); 3 and David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of Yahweh?” 4 The Gibeonites said to him, “It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.” He said, “Whatever you say, that will I do for you.” 5 They said to the king, “The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel, 6 let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh.” The king said, “I will give them.”

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Yahweh, and all seven of them fell together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.

10 Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night. 11 It was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa; 13 and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that God was entreated for the land.

Four Battles against the Philistines
(1 Chronicles 20:4–8)

15 The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint; 16 and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being armed with a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don’t quench the lamp of Israel.”

18 It came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant. 19 There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. 21 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, killed him. 22 These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

David Avenges the Gibeonites

1 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD.

And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

2 At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)

3 So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”

4 The Gibeonites said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel for us.”

“Whatever you ask, I will do for you,” he replied.

5 And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them a before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.”

“I will give them to you,” said the king.

7 Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab b daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies, she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

11 When David was told what Saul’s concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung the bodies after they had struck down Saul at Gilboa.

13 So David had the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan brought from there, along with the bones of those who had been hanged. 14 And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish.

After they had done everything the king had commanded, God answered their prayers for the land.

Four Battles against the Philistines
(1 Chronicles 20:4–8)

15 Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines; but David became exhausted.

16 Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, c whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels d and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him.

Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.”

18 Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, e one of the descendants of Rapha.

19 Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair f the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath g the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

20 And there was still another battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, 21 and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei h killed him.

22 So these four descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.

Footnotes:

6 a Or expose them  or execute them ; similarly in verse 9
8 b Two Hebrew manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also 1 Samuel 18:19); most Hebrew and LXX manuscripts Michal
16 c Or the giant ; also in verses 18, 20, and 22
16 d 300 shekels  is approximately 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms.
18 e Saph  is a variant of Sippai ; see 1 Chronicles 20:4.
19 f See 1 Chronicles 20:5; Hebrew Jaare-oregim
19 g See 1 Chronicles 20:5; Hebrew does not include the brother of .
21 h Shimei  is a variant of Shammah , Shimeah , and Shimea ; see 1 Samuel 16:9, 2 Samuel 13:3, and 1 Chronicles 2:13.

David Avenges the Gibeonites

1And there is a famine in the days of David three years, year after year, and David seeketh the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah saith, 'For Saul and for the bloody house, because that he put to death the Gibeonites.' 2And the king calleth for the Gibeonites, and saith unto them -- as to the Gibeonites, they are not of the sons of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorite, and the sons of Israel had sworn to them, and Saul seeketh to smite them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah -- 3yea, David saith unto the Gibeonites, 'What do I do for you? and with what do I make atonement? and bless ye the inheritance of Jehovah.' 4And the Gibeonites say to him, 'We have no silver and gold by Saul and by his house, and we have no man to put to death in Israel;' and he saith, 'What ye are saying I do to you.' 5And they say unto the king, 'The man who consumed us, and who devised against us -- we have been destroyed from stationing ourselves in all the border of Israel -- 6let there be given to us seven men of his sons, and we have hanged them before Jehovah, in the height of Saul, the chosen of Jehovah.' And the king saith, 'I do give;'

7and the king hath pity on Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul, because of the oath of Jehovah that is between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul; 8and the king taketh the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Michal daughter of Saul whom she bare to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite, 9and giveth them into the hand of the Gibeonites, and they hang them in the hill before Jehovah; and the seven fall together, and they have been put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, the commencement of barley-harvest.

10And Rizpah daughter of Aiah taketh the sackcloth, and stretcheth it out for herself on the rock, from the commencement of harvest till water hath been poured out upon them from the heavens, and hath not suffered a fowl of the heavens to rest upon them by day, or the beast of the field by night. 11And it is declared to David that which Rizpah daughter of Aiah, concubine of Saul, hath done, 12and David goeth and taketh the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the possessors of Jabesh-Gilead, who had stolen them from the broad place of Beth-Shan, where the Philistines hanged them, in the day of the Philistines smiting Saul in Gilboa; 13and he bringeth up thence the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, and they gather the bones of those hanged, 14and bury the bones of Saul and of Jonathan his son in the land of Benjamin, in Zelah, in the burying-place of Kish his father, and do all that the king commanded, and God is entreated for the land afterwards.

Four Battles against the Philistines

(1 Chronicles 20:4-8)

15And again have the Philistines war with Israel, and David goeth down, and his servants with him, and they fight with the Philistines; and David is weary, 16and Ishbi-Benob, who is among the children of the giant -- the weight of his spear is three hundred shekels weight of brass, and he is girded with a new one -- speaketh of smiting David, 17and Abishai son of Zeruiah giveth help to him, and smiteth the Philistine, and putteth him to death; then swear the men of David to him, saying, 'Thou dost not go out again with us to battle, nor quench the lamp of Israel.'

18And it cometh to pass afterwards, that the battle is again in Gob with the Philistines, then hath Sibbechai the Hushathite smitten Saph, who is among the children of the giant. 19And the battle is again in Gob with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim, the Beth-Lehemite, smiteth a brother of Goliath the Gittite, and the wood of his spear is like a beam of weavers. 20And the battle is again in Gath, and there is a man of stature, and the fingers of his hands are six, and the toes of his feet are six, twenty and four in number, and he also hath been born to the giant, 21and he reproacheth Israel, and smite him doth Jonathan son of Shimeah, brother of David; 22these four have been born to the giant in Gath, and they fall by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 21?

1.1Introduction to 2 Samuel 21

1.2Context of 2 Samuel 21

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.52 Samuel 21 Unique Insights

1.62 Samuel 21 Connections to Yeshua

1.72 Samuel 21 Scriptural Echoes

1.82 Samuel 21 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 21?

Introduction to 2 Samuel 21

2 Samuel 21 presents a profound narrative that interweaves divine justice, covenant faithfulness, and the complexities of leadership in ancient Israel. This chapter opens with a devastating three-year famine and concludes with victories over the Philistine giants, demonstrating how יהוה (Yahweh) both judges and delivers His people. The chapter serves as a somber reminder of the lasting consequences of broken covenants while simultaneously highlighting God’s mercy in bringing resolution and restoration.

Context of 2 Samuel 21

This chapter is strategically positioned within the final four chapters of 2 Samuel (chapters 21-24), which form an epilogue to David’s reign. These chapters are not strictly chronological but are thematically arranged to provide theological reflection on David’s kingdom. The famine narrative connects back to Joshua’s covenant with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:15) and Saul’s violation of it, demonstrating how past actions can have far-reaching consequences.

In the broader biblical narrative, this chapter serves multiple purposes. It illustrates the principle that covenant violations have serious consequences, even across generations. The chapter also continues the theme of David’s reliance on יהוה (Yahweh) for guidance and highlights the ongoing conflict with the Philistines, which began in 1 Samuel and represents the spiritual battle between God’s kingdom and the powers of darkness.

Ancient Key Word Study

Famine (רָעָב, ra’av) – This Hebrew word implies more than just food scarcity; it carries the connotation of divine judgment (Amos 8:11). Its usage here suggests a supernatural withholding of blessing that required divine intervention to resolve.
Atonement (כָּפַר, kaphar) – The root word means “to cover” or “to propitiate.” In this context, it speaks of making things right between the Gibeonites and Israel, pointing forward to the ultimate atonement in the Messiah.
Blood Guilt (דָּמִים, damim) – Used in plural form, this term refers to bloodshed that demands justice. It carries legal and spiritual implications, suggesting both criminal and moral responsibility.
Chosen (בָּחַר, bachar) – When used of the seven men selected for execution, this word typically describes divine selection, suggesting a solemn, sacred aspect to their death as an act of justice.
Water from Heaven (מַיִם מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם, mayim min-hashamayim) – This phrase describes God’s blessing of rain, symbolizing His acceptance of the atonement and restoration of favor.
Giants (רָפָה, rapha) – The term refers to the Rephaim, a race of giants. Its usage here connects to ancient Near Eastern traditions about semi-divine beings and emphasizes the supernatural nature of Israel’s enemies.
Delivered (נָצַל, natsal) – This verb implies rescue from danger, particularly divine deliverance. Its usage in the battle narratives emphasizes God’s protective care over David and his warriors.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 1’s phrase “sought the face of the LORD” (וַיְבַקֵּשׁ דָּוִד אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה) was chosen over simpler alternatives like “asked the LORD” to emphasize the intensity and humility of David’s seeking. The word “face” (פְּנֵי) implies intimate, direct communication with God.
The description of Rizpah’s vigil uses the phrase “from the beginning of harvest” rather than giving a specific date, connecting her actions to the agricultural cycle and the famine theme while emphasizing her extraordinary dedication.
The term “hang” (יָקַע) in verse 6 was chosen over standard execution terminology, possibly reflecting a specific form of ritual death required for atonement in ancient Near Eastern culture.
The phrase “chosen of the LORD” (בְּחִיר יְהוָה) in reference to Saul maintains respect for the office of God’s anointed even while describing judgment on his house.
The description of the giants’ weapons uses precise measurements and materials, emphasizing the supernatural nature of these enemies and the magnitude of their defeat.

2 Samuel 21 Unique Insights

The chapter contains several layers of profound theological and historical significance. The three-year famine serves as a powerful reminder that natural disasters often have spiritual roots. The Talmud (Yevamot 78b) discusses how this episode demonstrates the principle that converts (like the Gibeonites) should be treated with the same justice as native-born Israelites, reflecting God’s heart for justice regardless of ethnic background.

Can a Bible Come to Life over a Coffee?

This biblical entry has a unique origin story. Find out how it came to be—and why your visit today is about so much more than words. Get your coffee ready—God’s about to visit. But will you open the door for Him?

I’m ready

The timing of the rain’s return after Rizpah’s vigil presents a fascinating insight into divine timing and human faithfulness. Her actions, traditionally interpreted as a display of chesed (covenant faithfulness), moved both David and God to action. Early rabbinical sources note that her dedication shamed David into proper burial proceedings for Saul’s family, demonstrating how one person’s righteousness can influence leaders and nations.

The battles with the Philistine giants at the chapter’s end connect to ancient Jewish traditions about the Nephilim and their descendants. These encounters represent more than mere military victories; they symbolize Israel’s triumph over primordial evil through divine enablement. This foreshadows the Messiah’s ultimate victory over spiritual forces of wickedness.

2 Samuel 21 Connections to Yeshua

The chapter’s themes of blood atonement, covenant faithfulness, and divine justice find their ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua the Messiah. The required death of Saul’s descendants to atone for covenant violation points to the necessity of blood atonement for sin, fully satisfied in Yeshua’s sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22).

The restoration of rain following the proper burial of Saul’s family parallels how Yeshua’s death and burial brought the outpouring of God’s Spirit and blessing. Just as David’s mighty men defeated the giants threatening Israel, Yeshua conquered the ultimate giants of sin and death, securing eternal victory for His people (1 Corinthians 15:57).

2 Samuel 21 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical passages and themes. The famine as divine judgment echoes similar episodes in Genesis and Ruth, while the Gibeonite covenant violation connects to Joshua 9. The theme of blood guilt requiring atonement appears throughout the Torah and finds its ultimate resolution in Messiah’s sacrifice (Leviticus 17:11).

The battles with the giants recall David’s earlier victory over Goliath and connect to the broader biblical narrative of conflict between the seed of the woman and God’s enemies (Genesis 3:15). The faithful actions of Rizpah parallel other biblical examples of righteous individuals whose dedication moved God’s heart, such as Moses and Daniel.

2 Samuel 21 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our own covenant faithfulness and commitment to justice. Like David, we must be willing to face and make right past wrongs, even when they are inherited from previous generations. Rizpah’s extraordinary dedication calls us to stand firm in righteousness, even when it seems futile or costly.

The chapter’s conclusion reminds us that while we may face seemingly insurmountable obstacles (our own “giants”), God provides victory through those who trust in Him. Just as David’s mighty men triumphed through divine enablement, we too can overcome through faith in our Messiah.

Did You Know

The three-year famine mentioned in this chapter would have been particularly severe in ancient Israel, where agricultural cycles were crucial for survival, making it a clear sign of divine judgment.
Rizpah’s vigil lasted approximately six months, from the beginning of the barley harvest in spring until the autumn rains, demonstrating extraordinary dedication and faith.
The Gibeonites were not asking for monetary compensation but for justice according to the ancient principle of blood vengeance, reflecting deep-seated cultural and legal traditions.
The term used for “giants” (Rephaim) appears in various ancient Near Eastern texts, suggesting these were widely known legendary warriors.
The specific mention of bronze weight in the giants’ weapons (600 shekels) equals approximately 15 pounds, highlighting the supernatural strength needed to wield such weapons.
The location of the executions at Gibeah, Saul’s hometown, was symbolically significant, representing the end of his dynasty’s influence.
David’s gathering of Saul and Jonathan’s bones demonstrates proper honor for God’s anointed, even after death, a principle that carried significant weight in ancient Near Eastern culture.
The phrase “water from heaven” was an idiom representing divine blessing and acceptance of atonement in ancient Semitic cultures.
Archaeological evidence from this period shows that proper burial was considered crucial for both honor and closure in ancient Israelite society.
The specific mention of the first rain ending the drought carries meteorological significance, as the “early rains” were crucial for agricultural cycles in ancient Israel.

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