2 SAMUEL 21 - Gibeonites avenged 

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

** By divine revelation David learned the current famine was a result of Saul committing a sin, namely trying to annihilate the Gibeonites

• Saul committed a serious sin in breaking a covenant made some 400 years earlier between Joshua and the Gibeonites, not to harm the Gibeonites

• Saul broke this treaty and attacked the Gibeonites who still held land in Israel

• When David learned that a famine which had struck Israel was God’s punishment for breaking the oath sworn in His name, he asked the Gibeonites about reparations  <R1795>

• Even though the Gibeonites deceived Joshua, a covenant was made which is no small matter to God  <M130>

2 Samuel 21:1-2 NIV

[1] During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” [2] The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.)

** David asked the Gibeonites what he could do for them to make atonement for the wrong Saul committed; the Gibeonites wanted seven of Saul's descendants

2 Samuel 21:3,5-6 NIV

[3] David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?” [5] They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, [6] let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul---the Lord’s chosen one.” So the king said, “I will give them to you.”

** David kept his oath with Jonathan and did not hand over his son to the Gibeonites

2 Samuel 21:7 NIV

[7] 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.

** David responded to the mourning of Rizpah by moving the bones of Saul and Jonathan; God started responding to the prayers of the Israelites again as a result

2 Samuel 21:11-14 NIV

[11] When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, [12] he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) [13] David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up. [14] They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.

** David joined the battle with the Philistines and the enemy wanted to kill him; David was told by his men to stay at home next time

2 Samuel 21:15-17 NIV

[15] Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. [16] And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. [17] But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished. ”