2 Samuel 21

CHAPTER 21

The Gibeonites Avenged (21:1–14)

1–3 A threeyear famine occurred during David’s reign, and David sought the face of the LORD (verse 1)—that is, he prayed to the Lord on behalf of the people and he also inquired of the Lord⁶⁶ concerning the cause of the famine and what he should do about it. The Lord indicated that the famine was the result of Saul’s killing of the Gibeonites.⁶⁷ So David asked the Gibeonites how he could make amends—that is, make atonement—so that they would bless the Lord’s inheritance (the people and land of Israel) and thereby remove God’s curse from it.

4–9 The Gibeonites told David that he could “make amends” by putting to death seven of Saul’s descendants⁶⁸ (verse 6). The Gibeonites suggested that this be done in Gibeah, the hometown of Saul—the Lord’s chosen one (see 1 Samuel 10:24,26). So David carried out the Gibeonites’ request; he believed that in this way the famine could be ended—which proved true (see verse 10).

The idea of punishing children and grandchildren for the sins of a parent is difficult to understand; indeed, the law of Moses prohibited it (see Deuteronomy 24:16 and comment). But God has also made it clear that the behavior of parents can adversely affect their descendants for up to four generations (see Exodus 20:46 and comment). Furthermore, it is quite probable that these seven descendants of Saul were themselves guilty of great sins, and thus deserving of death.

David spared Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth because of the oath he had made to Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:14–17). But he took seven others—two sons and five grandsons of Saul—and handed them over to the Gibeonites, who then killed them (verse 9). Thus, except for Jonathan’s line, the house of Saul was brought to an end, the house which God had rejected (1 Samuel 13:13–14; 15:26).

10–14 Saul’s concubine Rizpah, mourning the death of her two sons, went out and stayed near their exposed bodies to keep the birds and animals away. She did this until the rain poured down, signaling the end of the famine⁶⁹ (verse 10).

When David was told of Rizpah’s respect for the dead, he decided that he, too, should show similar respect. He first went and retrieved the bones of Saul and Jonathan from the town of Jabesh Gilead where they had been buried (1 Samuel 31:8–13). Then he brought the bones, together with the bodies of the seven who had recently been killed, and buried them in the tomb of Saul’s father (verse 14). Then God answered prayer in behalf of the land. Saul’s sin had been atoned for; now God’s curse could be removed from the land.

Wars Against the Philistines (21:15–22)
(1 Chronicles 20:4–8)

15–17 In this section the writer briefly describes four battles with the Philistines. It’s not certain at what point during David’s reign these battles occurred. Each battle resulted in the death of a descendant of Rapha (verses 16,18,20,22); like Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4–7), these descendants were men of great size who fought on the side of the Philistines.

The first battle is described in verses 15–18. David was with his troops and during the battle he was threatened by one of these giants, Ishbi-Benob. Abishai came to David’s rescue and killed the giant. But after that, David’s men would not allow him on the battlefield. He was the lamp of Israel (verse 17)—Israel’s leader, guide and light; if he was extinguished (killed), the loss to Israel would be immeasurable.

18 The second battle occurred at Gob, located near Gezer; in this battle a giant named Saph (or Sippai) was killed (see 1 Chronicles 20:4).

19 In the third battle, the writer says that a giant named Goliath was killed.⁷⁰

20–22 The fourth Philistine giant to be killed had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. Though David did not actually kill any of these giants, the writer gives him part of the credit for their deaths because his warriors fought under his command (verse 22).