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Texts -- 2 Samuel 21:1-9 (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 .

Pericope

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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.

  • 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...

  • Saul

    [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...
    [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,...

  • GIANTS

    [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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • 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. ...

  • 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...

  • 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. ...

  • 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...

  • Adriel

    [ebd] flock of God, the son of Barzillai, the Meholathite, to whom Saul gave in marriage his daughter Merab (1 Sam. 18:19). The five sons that sprang from this union were put to death by the Gibeonites (2 Sam. 21:8, 9. Here it is ...
    [isbe] ADRIEL - a'-dri-el (`adhri'el, "my help is God"): The son of Barzillai the Meholathite, to whom Merab the daughter of King Saul was married when she should have been given to David (1 Sam 18:19; 2 Sam 21:8). "Michal" in 2 Sa...
    [smith] (flock of God), son of Barzillai, to whom Saul gave his daughter Merab, although he had previously promised her to David. (1 Samuel 18:19) (B.C. about 1062.) His five sons were amongst the seven descendants of Saul whom Da...
    [nave] ADRIEL, Saul's son-in-law, 1 Sam. 18:19; 2 Sam. 21:8, 9.

  • Armoni

    [ebd] inhabitant of a fortress, the first-named of the two sons of Saul and Rizpah. He was delivered up to the Gibeonites by David, and hanged by them (2 Sam. 21:8, 9).
    [isbe] ARMONI - ar-mo'-ni ('armoni, "belonging to the palace"): One of the two sons of Saul by Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah (2 Sam 21:8). David delivered them over to the blood vengeance of the Gibeonites.
    [smith] son of Saul by Rizpah. (2 Samuel 21:8)
    [nave] ARMONI, son of Saul, 2 Sam. 21:8.

  • GIBEAH

    [ebd] a hill or hill-town, "of Benjamin" (1 Sam. 13:15), better known as "Gibeah of Saul" (11:4; Isa. 10:29). It was here that the terrible outrage was committed on the Levite's concubine which led to the almost utter extirpation ...
    [isbe] GIBEAH - gib'-e-a (gibh`ah, "hill"): The Hebrew word denotes generally an eminence or hill, in distinction from har, which is used for mountain, or mountain range. It occurs, however, in two instances, as a place-name. Under...

  • PUNISHMENTS

    [isbe] PUNISHMENTS - pun'-ish-ments ('awon, "fault," "iniquity," "punishment for iniquity," "sin" (Gen 4:13; Lev 26:41; Job 19:29; Ps 149:7; Lam 4:22; Ezek 14:10 margin; Am 1:3,6,9,11,13; 2:1,4,6), `onesh, "tribute," "fine," "punis...
    [smith] The earliest theory of punishment current among mankind is doubtless the one of simple retaliation, "blood for blood." Viewed historically, the first case of punishment for crime mentioned in Scripture, next to the Fall itsel...

  • Barzillai

    [ebd] of iron. (1.) A Meholathite, the father of Adriel (2 Sam. 21:8). (2.) A Gileadite of Rogelim who was distinguished for his loyalty to David. He liberally provided for the king's followers (2 Sam. 17:27). David on his death-b...
    [isbe] BARZILLAI - bar-zil'-a-i, bar-zil'-i (barzillay; Berzelli, "man of iron" (BDB, but compare Cheyne, Encyclopedia Biblica)): (1) A Gileadite of Rogelim who brought provisions to David and his army to Mahanaim, in their flight ...
    [smith] (iron, i.e., strong). A wealthy Gileadite who showed hospitality to David when he fled form Absalom. (2 Samuel 17:27) (B.C. 1023.) He declined the king?s offer of ending his days at court. (2 Samuel 19:32-39) A Meholat...
    [nave] BARZILLAI 1. A friend of David, 2 Sam. 17:27-29; 19:31-39; 1 Kin. 2:7; Ezra 2:61; Neh. 7:63. 2. Father of Adriel, 2 Sam. 21:8. 3. A priest, Ezra 2:61; Neh. 7:63.

  • 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...

  • Famine

    [ebd] The first mentioned in Scripture was so grievous as to compel Abraham to go down to the land of Egypt (Gen. 26:1). Another is mentioned as having occurred in the days of Isaac, causing him to go to Gerar (Gen. 26:1, 17). But...
    [isbe] FAMINE - fam'-in (ra`abh; limos): 1. Natural Causes 2. Famines Mentioned 3. Divine Relations 4. Figurative Uses The common Old Testament word for "famine" is ra`abh; re`abhon also occurs (Gen 42:19,33; Ps 37:19), and kaphan ...
    [nave] FAMINE Pharaoh forewarned of, in dreams, Gen. 41. Described, Deut. 28:53-57; Isa. 5:13; 9:18-21; 17:11; Jer. 5:17; 14:1-6; 48:33; Lam. 1:11, 19; 2:11-22; 4:4-10; Joel 1:17-20. Sent as a judgment, Lev. 26:19-29; Deut. 28:23...

  • MICHAL

    [ebd] rivulet, or who as God?, the younger of Saul's two daughters by his wife Ahinoam (1 Sam. 14:49, 50). "Attracted by the graces of his person and the gallantry of his conduct, she fell in love with David and became his wife" (...
    [isbe] MICHAL - mi'-kal (mikhal, contracted from mikha'el, "Michael" (which see); Melchol): Saul's younger daughter (1 Sam 14:49), who, falling in love with David after his victory over Goliath (1 Sam 18:20), was at last, on the pa...
    [smith] (who is like God?), the younger of Saul?s two daughters, (1 Samuel 14:49) who married David. The price fixed on Michal?s hand was no less than the slaughter of a hundred Philistines. David by a brilliant feat doubled the t...
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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...
  • (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 ...
  • 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...
  • 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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