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Texts -- 2 Samuel 21:1-21 (NET)

Context
The Gibeonites Demand Revenge
21:1 During David’s reign there was a famine for three consecutive years . So David inquired of the Lord . The Lord said , “It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family , because he murdered the Gibeonites .” 21:2 So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them. (Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel ; they were a remnant of the Amorites . The Israelites had made a promise to them , but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah .) 21:3 David said to the Gibeonites , “What can I do for you, and how can I make amends so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance ?” 21:4 The Gibeonites said to him, “We have no claim to silver or gold from Saul or from his family , nor would we be justified in putting to death anyone in Israel .” David asked , “What then are you asking me to do for you?” 21:5 They replied to the king , “As for this man who exterminated us and who schemed against us so that we were destroyed and left without status throughout all the borders of Israel – 21:6 let seven of his male descendants be turned over to us, and we will execute them before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul , who was the Lord’s chosen one .” The king replied , “I will turn them over .” 21:7 The king had mercy on Mephibosheth son of Jonathan , the son of Saul , in light of the Lord’s oath that had been taken between David and Jonathan son of Saul . 21:8 So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth , the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah whom she had born to Saul , and the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab whom she had born to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite . 21:9 He turned them over to the Gibeonites , and they executed them on a hill before the Lord . The seven of them died together ; they were put to death during harvest time– during the first days of the beginning of the barley harvest . 21:10 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 fell on them, she did not allow the birds of the air to feed on them by day , nor the wild animals by night . 21:11 When David was told what Rizpah daughter of Aiah , Saul’s concubine , had done , 21:12 he went and took the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan from the leaders of Jabesh Gilead . (They had secretly taken them from the plaza at Beth Shan . It was there that Philistines publicly exposed their corpses after they had killed Saul at Gilboa .) 21:13 David brought the bones of Saul and of Jonathan his son from there ; they also gathered up the bones of those who had been executed . 21:14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin at Zela in the grave of his father Kish . After they had done everything that the king had commanded , God responded to their prayers for the land .
Israel Engages in Various Battles with the Philistines
21:15 Another battle was fought between the Philistines and Israel . So David went down with his soldiers and fought the Philistines . David became exhausted . 21:16 Now Ishbi-Benob , one of the descendants of Rapha , had a spear that weighed three hundred bronze shekels , and he was armed with a new weapon. He had said that he would kill David . 21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to David’s aid, striking the Philistine down and killing him . Then David’s men took an oath saying , “You will not go out to battle with us again ! You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel !” 21:18 Later there was another battle with the Philistines , this time in Gob . On that occasion Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph , who was one of the descendants of Rapha . 21:19 Yet another battle occurred with the Philistines in Gob . On that occasion Elhanan the son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite , the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam . 21:20 Yet another battle occurred in Gath . On that occasion there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot , twenty-four in all ! He too was a descendant of Rapha . 21:21 When he taunted Israel , Jonathan , the son of David’s brother Shimeah , killed him.

Pericope

NET
  • 2Sa 21:1-14 -- The Gibeonites Demand Revenge
  • 2Sa 21:15-22 -- Israel Engages in Various Battles with the Philistines

Bible Dictionary

  • David

    [ebd] beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother's name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25. As to his personal ...
    [isbe] DAVID - da'-vid (dawidh, or dawidh, "beloved"; Daueid, also in New Testament, Dauid, Dabid; see Thayer's Lexicon): I. NAME AND GENEALOGY II. EARLY YEARS 1. Shepherd 2. Slinger 3. Harpist 4. Poet 5. Psalmist 6. Tribesman III....
    [nave] DAVID 1. King of Israel. Genealogy of, Ruth 4:18-22; 1 Sam. 16:11; 17:12; 1 Chr. 2:3-15; Matt. 1:1-6; Luke 3:31-38. A shepherd, 1 Sam. 16:11. Kills a lion and a bear, 1 Sam. 17:34-36. Anointed king, while a youth, by the ...

  • Rizpah

    [ebd] coal; hot stone, the daughter of Aiah, and one of Saul's concubines. She was the mother of Armoni and Mephibosheth (2 Sam. 3:7; 21:8, 10, 11). It happened that a grievous famine, which lasted for three years, fell upon the l...
    [isbe] RIZPAH - riz'-pa (ritspah, "hot stone"; Josephus, Rhaispha): In 2 Sam 3:7 the subject of a coarse slander. 2 Sam 21 contains the pathetic story of Rizpah's faithful watch over the bodies of her dead sons Mephibosheth and Arm...
    [smith] concubine to King Saul, and mother of his two sons Armoni and Mephibosheth. (B.C. 1080.) The tragic story of the love and endurance with which she watched over the bodies of her two sons, who were killed by the Gibeonites, (2...
    [nave] RIZPAH Concubine of Saul, 2 Sam. 3:7. Guards the bodies of her sons hanged by command of David, 2 Sam. 21:8-11.

  • GIANTS

    [ebd] (1.) Heb. nephilim, meaning "violent" or "causing to fall" (Gen. 6:4). These were the violent tyrants of those days, those who fell upon others. The word may also be derived from a root signifying "wonder," and hence "monste...
    [isbe] GIANTS - ji'-ants The word appears in the King James Version as the translation of the Hebrew words nephilim (Gen 6:4; Nu 13:33); repha'im (Dt 2:11,20; 3:11,13; Josh 12:4, etc.); rapha' (1 Ch 20:4,6,8), or raphah (2 Sam 21:1...

  • SAMUEL, BOOKS OF

    [isbe] SAMUEL, BOOKS OF - || I. PLACE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL IN THE HEBREW CANON II. CONTENTS OF THE BOOKS AND PERIOD OF TIME COVERED BY THE HISTORY III. SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS 1. Life of Samuel (1 Samuel 1 through 15) 2. Reign and D...

  • PSALMS, BOOK OF

    [isbe] PSALMS, BOOK OF - samz, (tehillim, "praises," cepher tehillim, "book of praises"; Psalmoi, Psalterion): I. INTRODUCTORY TOPICS 1. Title 2. Place in the Canon 3. Number of Psalms 4. Titles in the Hebrew Text II. AUTHORSHIP AN...

  • Gibeon

    [ebd] hill-city, "one of the royal cities, greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty" (Josh. 10:2). Its inhabitants were Hivites (11:19). It lay within the territory of Benjamin, and became a priest-city (18:25; 21:17)....
    [isbe] GIBEON - gib'-e-un (gibh`on): One of the royal cities of the Hivites (Josh 9:7). It was a greater city than Ai; and its inhabitants were reputed mighty men (Josh 10:2). It fell within the territory allotted to Benjamin (Josh...
    [nave] GIBEON 1. A city of the Hivites, Josh. 9:3, 17; 2 Sam. 21:2. The people of, adroitly draw Joshua into a treaty, Josh. 9. Made servants by the Israelites, when their sharp practice was discovered, Josh. 9:27. The sun stand...

  • SALVATION

    [isbe] SALVATION - sal-va'-shun: I. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 1. General 2. Individualism 3. Faith 4. Moral Law 5. Sacrifices 6. Ritual Law II. INTERMEDIATE LITERATURE 1. General 2. The Law III. THE TEACHING OF CHRIST 1. The Baptist 2. ...

  • HEREDITY

    [isbe] HEREDITY - he-red'-i-ti: 1. Physiological Heredity: Heredity, in modern language, is the law by which living beings tend to repeat their characteristics, physiological and psychical, in their offspring, a law familiar in som...

  • Saul

    [ebd] asked for. (1.) A king of Edom (Gen. 36:37, 38); called Shaul in 1 Chr. 1:48. (2.) The son of Kish (probably his only son, and a child of prayer, "asked for"), of the tribe of Benjamin, the first king of the Jewish nation. T...
    [isbe] SAUL - sol (sha'ul; Saoul): (1) The first king of Israel. I. EARLY HISTORY 1. Name and Meaning 2. Genealogy 3. Home and Station 4. Sources for Life 5. Election as King 6. Reasons for It II. REIGN AND FALL 1. His First Action...
    [smith] (desired), more accurately Shaul. One of the early kings of Edom, and successor of Samlah. (Genesis 36:37,38; 1 Chronicles 1:48) (B.C. after 1450.) The first king of Israel, the son of Kish, and of the tribe of Benjamin. ...
    [nave] SAUL 1. Called also Shaul. King of Edom, Gen. 36:37, 38; 1 Chr. 1:48, 49. 2. King of Israel. A Benjamite, son of Kish, 1 Sam. 9:1, 2. Sons of, 1 Chr. 8:33. His personal appearance, 1 Sam. 9:2; 10:23. Made king of Israel,...

  • Jonathan

    [ebd] whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture. The chief of these are, (1.) A Levite descended from Gershom (Judg. 18:30). His history is recorded in 17:7-13 and 18:30. The Rabbins ch...
    [smith] that is, "the gift of Jehovah, " the eldest son of King Saul. (B.C. about 1095-1056.) He was a man of great strength and activity. (2 Samuel 1:23) He was also famous as a warrior, (1 Chronicles 12:2) as is shown by the ...
    [nave] JONATHAN 1. A Levite of Bethlehem, who becomes a priest for Micah; accepts idolatry; joins the Danites, Judg. 17:7-13; 18:1-30. 2. Son of Saul, 1 Sam. 14:49. Victory of, over the Philistine garrison of Geba, 1 Sam. 13:3, 4...

  • Goliath

    [ebd] great. (1.) A famous giant of Gath, who for forty days openly defied the armies of Israel, but was at length slain by David with a stone from a sling (1 Sam. 17:4). He was probably descended from the Rephaim who found refuge...
    [isbe] GOLIATH - go-li'-ath (golyath; Goliath): (1) The giant of Gath, and champion of the Philistine army (1 Sam 17:4-23; 21:9; 22:10; 2 Sam 21:19; 1 Ch 20:5 ff). He defied the armies of Israel, challenging anyone to meet him in s...
    [smith] (splendor), a famous giant of Gath, who "morning and evening for forty days" defied the armies of Israel. (1 Samuel 17:1) ... (B.C. 1063.) He was possibly descended from the old Rephaim [GIANTS], of whom a scattered remnan...
    [nave] GOLIATH, a giant champion of Gath. Defied armies of Israel and is slain by David, 1 Sam. 17; 21:9; 22:10. His sons, 2 Sam. 21:15-22; 1 Chr. 20:4-8.

  • Mephibosheth

    [ebd] exterminator of shame; i.e., of idols. (1.) The name of Saul's son by the concubine Rizpah (q.v.), the daughter of Aiah. He and his brother Armoni were with five others "hanged on a hill before the Lord" by the Gibeonites, a...
    [isbe] MEPHIBOSHETH - me-fib'-o-sheth (mephibhosheth, "idol-breaker," also MERIB-BAAL (which see); Memphibosthe): (1) Son of Saul by his concubine RIZPAH (which see), daughter of Aiah (2 Sam 21:8). See also ARMONI. (2) Grandson of ...
    [smith] (exterminating the idol), the name borne by two members of the family of Saul --his son and his grandson. Saul?s son by Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, his concubine. (2 Samuel 21:8) He and his brother Armoni were among the ...
    [nave] MEPHIBOSHETH 1. Son of Saul by Rizpah, whom David surrendered to the Gibeonites to be slain, 2 Sam. 21:8, 9. 2. Son of Jonathan, 2 Sam. 4:4. Called Merib-baal, 1 Chr. 8:34; 9:40. Was lame, 2 Sam. 4:4. David entertains hi...

  • Ishbi-benob

    [isbe] ISHBI-BENOB - ish-bi-be'-nob (yishbi bhenobh): One of the four "born to the giant in Gath" who were slain by David and his men (2 Sam 21:15-22). Ishbi-benob was slain by Abishai, and David's life saved by the act (21:16,17)....
    [nave] ISHBI-BENOB, a giant warrior slain by Abishai, 2 Sam. 21:16.

  • PHILISTINES

    [ebd] (Gen. 10:14, R.V.; but in A.V., "Philistim"), a tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a branch of the primitive race which spread over the whole district of the Lebanon and the valley of the Jordan, and Crete and other ...
    [isbe] PHILISTINES - fi-lis'-tinz, fil'-is-tinz, fil'-is-tinz (pelishtim; Phulistieim, allophuloi): I. OLD TESTAMENT NOTICES 1. Race and Origin 2. Religion 3. Individual Philistines Mentioned 4. Title of Ruler and Circumcision 5. H...

  • Championship

    [nave] CHAMPIONSHIP Battles were decided by. Instances of Goliath and David, 1 Sam. 17:8-53. Young men of David's and Abner's armies, 2 Sam. 2:14-17. Representatives of the Philistines' and David's armies, 2 Sam. 21:15-22.

  • Covenant

    [nave] COVENANT Sacred, Josh. 9:18-21; Gal. 3:15. Binding, Josh. 9:18-20; Jer. 34:8-21; Ezek. 17:14-18; Gal. 3:15. Binding, not only on those who make them, but on those who are represented, Deut. 29:14, 15. Blood of, Ex. 24:8. ...

  • Armies

    [nave] ARMIES Who of the Israelites were subject to service in, Num. 1:2, 3; 26:2; 2 Chr. 25:5; who were exempt from service in, Num. 1:47-50; 2:33; Deut. 20:5-9; Judg. 7:3. Enumeration of Israel's military forces, Num. 1:2, 3; 26...

  • Anakim

    [ebd] the descendants of Anak (Josh. 11:21; Num. 13:33; Deut. 9:2). They dwelt in the south of Palestine, in the neighbourhood of Hebron (Gen. 23:2; Josh. 15:13). In the days of Abraham (Gen. 14:5, 6) they inhabited the region aft...

  • AIAH

    [isbe] AIAH - a'-ya ('ayyah, "falcon"; once in the King James Version Ajah, Gen 36:24): (1) A Horite, son of Zibeon, and brother of Anah, who was father of one of Esau's wives (Gen 36:24; 1 Ch 1:40). (2) Father of Rizpah, a concubi...
    [smith] (clamor). Son of Zibeon, a descendant of Seir and ancestor of one of the wives of Esau, (1 Chronicles 1:40) called in (Genesis 36:24) AJAH = A IAH. He probably died before his father, as the succession fell to his brother...

  • GIBEONITES, THE

    [smith] the people of Gibeon, and perhaps also of the three cities associated with Gibeon, (Joshua 9:17) --Hivites; and who, on the discover of the stratagem by which they had obtained the protection of the Israelites, were condemned...
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Sermon Illustrations

Five Smooth Stones; Five Smooth Stones; 2 Samuel 21:17

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Having completed the major addresses to the Israelites recorded to this point in Deuteronomy, Moses needed only to make a few final arrangements before Israel was ready to enter the land. The record of these events concludes ...
  • The residents of the town of Gibeon decided that if they could not defeat the Israelites they would join them. This has been a strategy that enemies of believers have employed for centuries (cf. Num. 25:1-2).9:1-2 Israel is t...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • The basic theme in Samuel, that blessing, and in particular fertility of all kinds, follows from faithful commitment to God's revealed will, continues in this section. However another major motif now becomes more prominent. W...
  • The other Israelite soldiers retreated when they heard that Saul and his sons had died. This left towns in the region open for Philistine seizure. Instead of driving the native inhabitants out of the land Saul had made it pos...
  • (Continued from notes on 1 Samuel)V. David's triumphs chs. 1-8A. The beginning of David's kingdom 1:1-3:51. David's discovery of Saul and Jonathan's deaths ch. 12. David's move to Hebron 2:1-4a3. David's overtures to Jabesh-g...
  • "From the religious heights of chapter 7 we descend again to the everyday world of battles and bloodshed in chapter 8. The military action picks up where the story left off at the end of chapter 5."130Chapter 8 evidently desc...
  • Chapters 9-20 contrast with chapters 2-8 in that this later section is negative whereas the earlier one was positive. It records failure; the former records success. Compare the similar narrative of Saul's triumphs (1 Sam. 7-...
  • "The account of Sheba's rebellion against David serves as a counterpoise to the story of Absalom's conspiracy (15:1-12) in chapters 15-20, which constitute the major part of the narrative that comprises chapters 13-20 (more p...
  • The last major section of the Book of Samuel (2 Sam. 21-24) consists of six separate pericopes that together constitute a conclusion to the whole book (cf. Judg. 17-21). Each pericope emphasizes the theological message of the...
  • In the first section (21:1-14), the writer reminds us that breaking covenants results in God withdrawing the blessing of fertility.
  • Internal references in 2 Samuel enable us to date this incident early in David's reign between Mephibosheth's arrival in Jerusalem and the beginning of the Ammonite wars. Probably God sent judgment on Israel for Saul's action...
  • David showed himself to be a true son of Yahweh by keeping his covenant with Jonathan and by sparing Mephibosheth (cf. v. 2; 1 Sam. 18:3; 20:8, 16). However, he followed God's Law and executed seven of Saul's descendants incl...
  • This record emphasizes the supernatural character of the victories David was able to enjoy because God fought for him by using various men in his army."The lists of heroes and heroic exploits that frame the poetic centre-piec...
  • This last section of the book records another occasion on which God withdrew his blessing from Israel this time because of David's sin (cf. 21:1-14). When David stopped trusting in Yahweh for protection and placed his confide...
  • David proceeded to offer sacrifices in response to Gad's instructions (v. 18). David needed to commit himself again to God (the burnt offering) and to renew his fellowship with God (the peace offering, v. 25). God instructed ...
  • When 1 Samuel opened Israel was a loosely connected affiliation of tribes with little unity and loyalty. Judges led her many of whom were weak and ineffective. Her worship was in disrepute due to corruption in the priesthood....
  • Achtemeier, Paul J., and Elizabeth Achtemeier. The Old Testament Roots of Our Faith. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979.Ackerman, James S. "Knowing Good and Evil: A Literary Ananysis of the Court History in 2 Samuel 9-20 and ...
  • Jeroboam, who would become the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, was from Ephraim, the most prominent tribe in the North (v. 26).Part of Benjamin affiliated voluntarily with Judah eventually (v. 32; cf. 12:21; 2 C...
  • Abijam (or Abijah, lit. my father is Yah[weh]) reigned from 913-911 B.C. while Jeroboam ruled over Israel.155"The accession formulae from this reign onwards make cross-references between Judah and Israel. It is not clear whet...
  • The king gave the Jews permission to defend themselves by killing their enemies. Evidently this meant that they not only met attack with resistance but in some cases initiated attack against those who they knew would destroy ...
  • David contrasted his trust in the Lord with the treachery of those who have no regard for Him in this psalm.The historical background appears in the title (2 Sam. 21-22). Undoubtedly Doeg the Edomite was in David's mind as he...
  • 132:11-12 God promised David that He would raise up a dynasty of David's descendents that would follow him on Israel's throne (2 Sam. 7:12-16). If they were faithful to the Lord, He would give them an unbroken succession. Of ...
  • 17:11-12 Ezekiel was now to tell his rebellious hearers what this story represented.250The first eagle stood for the king of Babylon (cf. Jer. 48:40; 49:22; Dan. 7:4). His invasion of Jerusalem (the specific identity of the L...
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