2 Samuel 21 - Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

Justice for the Gibeonites

21 During David’s reign there was a famine for three successive years, so David inquired[a] of the Lord. The Lord answered, “It is due to Saul and to his bloody family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

2 The Gibeonites were not Israelites but rather a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them,(A) but Saul had tried to kill them in his zeal for the Israelites and Judah. So David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. 3 He asked the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? How can I make atonement so that you will bring a blessing on[b] the Lord’s inheritance?”

4 The Gibeonites said to him, “We are not asking for silver and gold from Saul or his family,(B) and we cannot put anyone to death in Israel.”(C)

“Whatever you say, I will do for you,” he said.

5 They replied to the king, “As for the man who annihilated us and plotted to destroy us so we would not exist within the whole territory of Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be handed over to us so we may hang[c] them in the presence of the Lord(D) at Gibeah of Saul,(E) the Lord’s chosen.”(F)

The king answered, “I will hand them over.”

7 David spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul’s son Jonathan, because of the oath of the Lord that was between David and Jonathan, Saul’s son.(G) 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, who were the two sons whom Rizpah(H) daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, and the five sons whom Merab[d](I) daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite 9 and handed them over to the Gibeonites. They hanged[e] them on the hill in the presence of the Lord; the seven of them died together. They were executed in the first days of the harvest at the beginning of the barley harvest.[f]

The Burial of Saul’s Family

10 Rizpah, Aiah’s daughter, took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on the rock from the beginning of the harvest[g] until the rain poured down from heaven on the bodies. She kept the birds of the sky from them by day and the wild animals by night.

11 When it was reported to David what Saul’s concubine Rizpah daughter of Aiah had done, 12 he went and got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh-gilead. They had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung the bodies the day the Philistines killed Saul at Gilboa.(J) 13 David had the bones brought from there. They gathered up the bones of Saul’s family who had been hanged 14 and buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan at Zela in the land of Benjamin in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. They did everything the king commanded. After this, God was receptive to prayer for the land.(K)

The Philistine Giants

15 The Philistines again waged war against Israel. David went down with his soldiers, and they fought the Philistines, but David became exhausted. 16 Then Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giant,[h] whose bronze spear weighed about eight pounds[i] and who wore new armor, intended to kill David. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle. You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel.”(L)

18 After this,(M) there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giant.

19 Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed[j] Goliath of Gath. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam.(N)

20 At Gath there was still another battle. A huge man was there with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He, too, was descended from the giant. 21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, son of David’s brother Shimei, killed him.

22 These four were descended from the giant in Gath and were killed by David and his soldiers.

Footnotes

  1. 21:1 Lit sought the face of
  2. 21:3 Lit will bless
  3. 21:6 Or impale, or expose
  4. 21:8 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Tg; other Hb mss read Michal
  5. 21:9 Or impaled, or exposed, also in v. 13
  6. 21:9 = March–April
  7. 21:10 = April to October
  8. 21:16 Or Raphah, also in vv. 18,20,22
  9. 21:16 Lit 300 (shekels)
  10. 21:19 1Ch 20:5 adds the brother of

Cross references

  1. 21:2 : Jos 9:3–17
  2. 21:4 : Nm 35:31–32
  3. 21:4 : Lv 24:21–22
  4. 21:6 : Nm 25:4
  5. 21:6 : 1Sm 15:34
  6. 21:6 : 1Sm 10:24
  7. 21:7 : 1Sm 18:3; 20:12–17; 23:18
  8. 21:8 : 2Sm 3:7
  9. 21:8 : 1Sm 18:19
  10. 21:12 : 1Sm 31:11–13
  11. 21:14 : 2Sm 24:25
  12. 21:17 : 2Sm 18:3; 1Kg 11:36; 15:4; 2Ch 21:7; Ps 132:17
  13. 21:18–22 : 1Ch 20:4–8
  14. 21:19 : 1Sm 17:7

You Might Also Like:

2 Samuel 21 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

21 And there is a famine in the days of David three years, year after year, and David seeketh the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah saith, `For Saul and for the bloody house, because that he put to death the Gibeonites.' 2 And the king calleth for the Gibeonites, and saith unto them -- as to the Gibeonit...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

21 And hunger was made in the land of Israel in the days of David, by three years continually. And David counselled the answer of the Lord, that is, asked counsel of the Lord in the answering place; and the Lord said, It is for Saul, and for his house, and for [the] blood, for he killed the men of G...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - World English Bible (WEB)

21 There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the ch...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - The Voice (VOICE)

21 After the people had suffered from a famine for three successive years, David asked the Eternal One why the famine lingered, and the answer came that the nation was guilty for not making amends for the bloodlust of King Saul, who slaughtered the people of Gibeon. 2 (The Gibeonites were not from ...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Justice for the Gibeonites21 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year, so David sought the face of Adonai. Adonai replied, “It is because of Saul and his bloody house, for he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

David Avenges the Gibeonites21 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, “There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gib′eonites to death.” 2 So the king called the Gib′eonites.[a] No...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David Avenges the Gibeonites21 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, “There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gib′eonites to death.” 2 So the king called the Gib′eonites.[a] No...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

David Avenges the Gibeonites21 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. The Lord said, ‘There is blood-guilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.’ 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them....
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

David Avenges the Gibeonites21 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year, and David inquired of the Lord. The Lord said, “There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (N...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - New Living Translation (NLT)

David Avenges the Gibeonites21 There was a famine during David’s reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the Lord about it. And the Lord said, “The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites.” 2 So the king summoned the Gibeonites. They were not part...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - New Life Version (NLV)

The Gibeonites Kill Seven of Saul’s Grandsons21 While David was king there was a time without food for three years. David went to the Lord. The Lord said, “It is because of Saul and his house of blood, for he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites. (Now the Gibeonites wer...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - New King James Version (NKJV)

David Avenges the Gibeonites21 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David (A)inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, “It is because of Saul and his [a]bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spo...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The Gibeonites avenged21 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, ‘It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.’ 2 The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke t...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - New International Version (NIV)

The Gibeonites Avenged21 During the reign of David, there was a famine(A) for three successive years; so David sought(B) the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 The king summoned the Gibeonites(C) an...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

David Makes Things Right for the People of Gibeon21 For three years in a row there wasn’t enough food in the land. That was while David was king. So David asked the Lord why he wasn’t blessing his people. The Lord said, “It is because Saul and his family committed murder. He put the people of Gibeon...
Read More

2 Samuel 21 - New English Translation (NET)

The Gibeonites Demand Revenge21 During David’s reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the Lord.[a] The Lord said, “It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family,[b] because he murdered the Gibeonites.” 2 So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them....
Read More