II Samuel 21: Atonement, Warfare, and Divine Justice
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
And 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.)
Wherefore 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?
And 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.
And 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,
Let 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.
But 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.
But 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:
And 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.
And 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.
And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh–gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth–shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
And 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.
And 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.
Moreover 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.
And Ishbi–benob, 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.
But 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.
And 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.
And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare–oregim, a Beth–lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
And 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.
And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
II Samuel 21 presents a complex narrative involving famine, atonement for past sins, and continued warfare with the Philistines. This chapter underscores the enduring consequences of disobedience, the importance of covenant faithfulness, and God's continued protection over his people, even as their leader ages. This chapter also highlights the importance of understanding the historical and cultural context of the Old Testament.
The Famine and Atonement for Saul's Sin (II Samuel 21:1-14)
The chapter opens with a severe famine that afflicted Israel for three consecutive years. David, recognizing this as a sign of divine displeasure, inquired of the Lord. The Lord revealed that the famine was a consequence of Saul's actions against the Gibeonites (II Samuel 21:1). This refers to an event not explicitly recorded elsewhere in Scripture, but it clearly violated the covenant Joshua had made with the Gibeonites centuries earlier (Joshua 9:15-21). Saul's zeal for Israel had led him to break this covenant, bringing divine judgment upon the land.
To lift God's judgment, David sought to make atonement. He consulted the Gibeonites, asking how he could rectify the wrong and restore the Lord's blessing to Israel (II Samuel 21:3). The Gibeonites requested that seven of Saul's male descendants be handed over to them to be hanged (II Samuel 21:6). The number seven likely symbolizes completeness, signifying full satisfaction for the wrongs committed by Saul and his family. While this request seems harsh, it serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of sin in God's eyes. Sin is a great offense to God, and its consequences can be far-reaching.
David agreed to their terms, sparing only Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, because of the oath he had made with Jonathan (II Samuel 21:7). He then selected seven men from Saul’s lineage to be executed. Two were sons of Saul’s concubine Rizpah, and five were sons of his daughter Merab (II Samuel 21:8). The seven were hanged, and their bodies were left exposed.
Rizpah's devotion is particularly poignant. She guarded the bodies of her sons from scavengers, day and night, until the rain finally came (II Samuel 21:10). This act of maternal love and dedication deeply moved David. Upon hearing of Rizpah's actions, David retrieved the bones of Saul and Jonathan from Jabesh-gilead, gathered the bones of the seven executed descendants of Saul, and buried them all in Saul's ancestral tomb (II Samuel 21:11-14). This act of respect and proper burial appeased the Lord, and He became receptive to prayer for the land (II Samuel 21:14). The rain came, signifying the end of the drought and God's acceptance of the atonement.
Renewed Warfare and David's Near Demise (II Samuel 21:15-17)
Following the resolution of the famine, the Philistines once again engaged Israel in battle. David, though older, continued to lead his troops. However, he was no longer the youthful warrior of his past and became exhausted during the fighting (II Samuel 21:15). A formidable Philistine warrior named Ishbi-benob, wielding a spear, sought to kill David (II Samuel 21:16). Abishai bravely intervened, rescuing David from certain death.
This close call prompted David's men to plead with him not to risk his life in battle again. They declared, "You must not go out with us to battle anymore, lest you quench the lamp of Israel" (II Samuel 21:17). This statement reveals the high regard in which David was held. He was seen as the "lamp of Israel," the one who brought light and guidance to the nation. His death would plunge Israel into darkness.
The Defeat of Philistine Giants (II Samuel 21:18-22)
The chapter concludes with accounts of several more battles against the Philistines, during which other Israelite warriors distinguished themselves by killing Philistine giants (II Samuel 21:18-22). One account mentions Elhanan killing Goliath of Gath (II Samuel 21:19), which seems to contradict the well-known story of David slaying Goliath (I Samuel 17).
There are a few possible explanations for this discrepancy. It is possible that there were two giants named Goliath. However, a more likely explanation involves a scribal error. The parallel account in I Chronicles 20:5 states that Elhanan killed "Lahmi the brother of Goliath." This suggests that a copyist may have mistakenly attributed the death of Goliath to Elhanan. Regardless, the passage emphasizes the courage and strength of the Israelite warriors who continued to fight against their enemies. The Israelites killed four giants in total (II Samuel 21:22).
II Samuel 21 shows the consequences of sin and the need for atonement. It also shows that even great leaders like David are not immune to the effects of aging and the need for support from others. Ultimately, the chapter highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant and His continued protection over His people.
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
And 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.)
Wherefore 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?
And 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.
And 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,
Let 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.
But 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.
But 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:
And 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.
And 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.
And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh–gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth–shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
And 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.
And 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.
Moreover 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.
And Ishbi–benob, 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.
But 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.
And 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.
And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare–oregim, a Beth–lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
And 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.
And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.
These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
II Samuel 21 presents a complex narrative involving famine, atonement for past sins, and continued warfare with the Philistines. This chapter underscores the enduring consequences of disobedience, the importance of covenant faithfulness, and God's continued protection over his people, even as their leader ages. This chapter also highlights the importance of understanding the historical and cultural context of the Old Testament.
The Famine and Atonement for Saul's Sin (II Samuel 21:1-14)
The chapter opens with a severe famine that afflicted Israel for three consecutive years. David, recognizing this as a sign of divine displeasure, inquired of the Lord. The Lord revealed that the famine was a consequence of Saul's actions against the Gibeonites (II Samuel 21:1). This refers to an event not explicitly recorded elsewhere in Scripture, but it clearly violated the covenant Joshua had made with the Gibeonites centuries earlier (Joshua 9:15-21). Saul's zeal for Israel had led him to break this covenant, bringing divine judgment upon the land.
To lift God's judgment, David sought to make atonement. He consulted the Gibeonites, asking how he could rectify the wrong and restore the Lord's blessing to Israel (II Samuel 21:3). The Gibeonites requested that seven of Saul's male descendants be handed over to them to be hanged (II Samuel 21:6). The number seven likely symbolizes completeness, signifying full satisfaction for the wrongs committed by Saul and his family. While this request seems harsh, it serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of sin in God's eyes. Sin is a great offense to God, and its consequences can be far-reaching.
David agreed to their terms, sparing only Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, because of the oath he had made with Jonathan (II Samuel 21:7). He then selected seven men from Saul’s lineage to be executed. Two were sons of Saul’s concubine Rizpah, and five were sons of his daughter Merab (II Samuel 21:8). The seven were hanged, and their bodies were left exposed.
Rizpah's devotion is particularly poignant. She guarded the bodies of her sons from scavengers, day and night, until the rain finally came (II Samuel 21:10). This act of maternal love and dedication deeply moved David. Upon hearing of Rizpah's actions, David retrieved the bones of Saul and Jonathan from Jabesh-gilead, gathered the bones of the seven executed descendants of Saul, and buried them all in Saul's ancestral tomb (II Samuel 21:11-14). This act of respect and proper burial appeased the Lord, and He became receptive to prayer for the land (II Samuel 21:14). The rain came, signifying the end of the drought and God's acceptance of the atonement.
Renewed Warfare and David's Near Demise (II Samuel 21:15-17)
Following the resolution of the famine, the Philistines once again engaged Israel in battle. David, though older, continued to lead his troops. However, he was no longer the youthful warrior of his past and became exhausted during the fighting (II Samuel 21:15). A formidable Philistine warrior named Ishbi-benob, wielding a spear, sought to kill David (II Samuel 21:16). Abishai bravely intervened, rescuing David from certain death.
This close call prompted David's men to plead with him not to risk his life in battle again. They declared, "You must not go out with us to battle anymore, lest you quench the lamp of Israel" (II Samuel 21:17). This statement reveals the high regard in which David was held. He was seen as the "lamp of Israel," the one who brought light and guidance to the nation. His death would plunge Israel into darkness.
The Defeat of Philistine Giants (II Samuel 21:18-22)
The chapter concludes with accounts of several more battles against the Philistines, during which other Israelite warriors distinguished themselves by killing Philistine giants (II Samuel 21:18-22). One account mentions Elhanan killing Goliath of Gath (II Samuel 21:19), which seems to contradict the well-known story of David slaying Goliath (I Samuel 17).
There are a few possible explanations for this discrepancy. It is possible that there were two giants named Goliath. However, a more likely explanation involves a scribal error. The parallel account in I Chronicles 20:5 states that Elhanan killed "Lahmi the brother of Goliath." This suggests that a copyist may have mistakenly attributed the death of Goliath to Elhanan. Regardless, the passage emphasizes the courage and strength of the Israelite warriors who continued to fight against their enemies. The Israelites killed four giants in total (II Samuel 21:22).
II Samuel 21 shows the consequences of sin and the need for atonement. It also shows that even great leaders like David are not immune to the effects of aging and the need for support from others. Ultimately, the chapter highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant and His continued protection over His people.