2 Samuel 21:3

3 He asked, "What can I do for you? How can I make up for the harm done so you can bless the Lord's people?"

2 Samuel 21:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 21:3

Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, what shall I do for
you
By way of satisfaction for the injuries done them:

and wherewith shall I make the atonement;
for the offences committed, that so the wrath that was gone forth against the land in a famine might be appeased:

that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord?
pray for a blessing upon the land which the Lord had chosen for his inheritance, and given as such to the people of Israel, that rain might descend upon it, and make it fruitful.

2 Samuel 21:3 In-Context

1 During the time David was king, there was a shortage of food that lasted for three years. So David prayed to the Lord. The Lord answered, "Saul and his family of murderers are the reason for this shortage, because he killed the Gibeonites."

2 (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites; they were a group of Amorites who were left alive. The Israelites had promised not to hurt the Gibeonites, but Saul had tried to kill them, because he was eager to help the people of Israel and Judah.) King David called the Gibeonites together and spoke to them.

3 He asked, "What can I do for you? How can I make up for the harm done so you can bless the Lord's people?"

4 The Gibeonites said to David, "We cannot demand silver or gold from Saul or his family. And we don't have the right to kill anyone in Israel." Then David asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"

5 The Gibeonites said, "Saul made plans against us and tried to destroy all our people who are left in the land of Israel.