# Overview 2 Samuel Chapter 21 begins with a severe famine during the reign of #David, lasting three years. Seeking understanding, David inquires of the #LORD, who reveals that the famine is due to #Saul’s unatoned bloodshed against the #Gibeonites. To rectify this, David consults with the Gibeonites, who request the deaths of seven of Saul's descendants as retribution. David agrees, sparing only #Mephibosheth, the son of #Jonathan, due to his covenant with Jonathan. The execution is carried out, and the bodies are exposed until God is entreated and the famine is lifted, demonstrating the importance of justice and atonement in maintaining divine favor. The chapter concludes with a series of battles against the #Philistines, highlighting the ongoing conflict between Israel and their longstanding enemies. Among these accounts, notable victories are achieved by David’s warriors, including the slaying of giants descended from the Rephaim. This section underscores the valor and divine empowerment of David’s men, as well as the continuing fulfillment of God’s promises to protect and establish Israel through David’s leadership. The narrative of these battles serves as a testament to God's enduring provision and the importance of faithfulness in the face of adversity. ## Theological Insights 2 Samuel 21 provides significant insights into the themes of divine justice, covenant faithfulness, intercession, and the consequences of sin. The chapter begins with a famine during the reign of #David, which is revealed to be a result of #Saul's breach of covenant with the #Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1-2). This highlights the theological principle that God takes covenants seriously and expects His people to do the same. The famine serves as a divine response to covenant unfaithfulness, reminding readers of the importance of honoring commitments, especially those made in the name of the Lord. #David's role as an intercessor is prominent here. He seeks the Lord’s guidance to understand the cause of the famine and actively works to rectify the wrongs done by Saul, demonstrating a king's responsibility to lead his people in repentance and reconciliation with God. This reflects the broader biblical theme of intercession, as seen in figures like #Moses and #Abraham, who also stood in the gap for their people ([[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 18]], [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 32]]). The execution of Saul's descendants to atone for his sin against the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:8-9) raises theological questions about justice and the consequences of sin. It underscores the biblical notion that sin has communal and generational repercussions, as seen in passages like [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 20#5]] and [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 7]]. However, it also points to the need for divine justice to be satisfied, which is ultimately fulfilled in #Christ, who bears the sins of humanity ([[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 53]], [[Romans/Romans Chapter 3]]). The actions of #Rizpah, who protects the bodies of her sons, reflect the themes of love, grief, and justice. Her persistent vigil prompts David to honor the deceased by giving them a proper burial, which leads to God lifting the famine (2 Samuel 21:10-14). This narrative illustrates the power of steadfast love and the importance of honoring the dead, which aligns with biblical themes of justice and mercy ([[Proverbs/Proverbs Chapter 21#21]], [[Micah/Micah Chapter 6#8]]). Finally, the chapter concludes with accounts of battles against the Philistines, showcasing God's continued protection and deliverance of Israel through David's mighty men. This demonstrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to protect and sustain His people, as seen throughout the #OldTestament ([[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 1]], [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 17]]). Overall, 2 Samuel 21 intricately weaves themes of covenant, justice, intercession, and divine faithfulness, reminding readers of the serious nature of sin and the need for atonement, while pointing forward to the ultimate reconciliation found in Jesus Christ. ## Thematic Connections ### Justice and Retribution 2 Samuel 21 highlights the theme of divine justice and retribution, as seen through the famine that afflicted #Israel due to #Saul’s violation of an oath with the #Gibeonites. This reflects a broader biblical theme where God holds individuals and nations accountable for their actions, as seen in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 7|Pharaoh’s Egypt]] and [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 7|Achan’s sin]] which led to Israel's defeat at Ai. ### Covenant and Oaths The chapter underscores the importance of covenants and oaths, with #David seeking to atone for Saul’s breach of the Gibeonite covenant. This theme resonates with the biblical emphasis on the sanctity of vows and agreements, as seen in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 26|Isaac’s covenant with Abimelech]] and [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 18|David’s covenant with Jonathan]]. ### The Role of Propitiation David’s actions to appease the Gibeonites and lift the famine demonstrate a theme of propitiation—making amends to restore favor. Similar themes appear in [[Leviticus/Leviticus Chapter 16|the Day of Atonement]] and [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 25|Phinehas’ action]] to stop the plague, illustrating how intercession and atonement function within God’s redemptive framework. ### The Honor of the Fallen In 2 Samuel 21, David retrieves and properly buries the bones of Saul and Jonathan, which connects to the theme of honoring the fallen, a practice evident in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 50|Joseph honoring Jacob]] and [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 31|the men of Jabesh-Gilead honoring Saul]]. This action reflects the biblical value placed on respecting and commemorating those who have passed. ### God's Sovereignty in Warfare The accounts of battles against the Philistines, including the defeat of giants, underscore God’s sovereignty in warfare. This theme echoes previous victories granted by God, such as [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 17|David’s triumph over Goliath]] and [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 10|Joshua’s conquests]], illustrating that ultimate victory belongs to the Lord. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Gibeonite Vengeance and Saul's Lineage In [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 21]], the narrative of the Gibeonite vengeance reflects back to the covenant made with the #Gibeonites during the time of #Joshua (see [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 9]]). Although not a direct fulfillment of a specific prophecy, this event underscores the importance of covenant fidelity in the biblical narrative, a theme that echoes throughout scripture. The breaking of this covenant by #Saul and the subsequent famine until the resolution through #David highlights the enduring nature of God’s covenants and His justice, which points forward to the ultimate justice and fulfillment found in #Christ. ### The Davidic Covenant and the Fall of Saul’s House The execution of seven descendants of #Saul as an atonement for his breach of the covenant with the Gibeonites (verses 6-9) illustrates the unraveling of Saul's house, which aligns with the prophetic judgment pronounced by #Samuel in [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 15]] and [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 28]]. This serves as a backdrop to the establishment of the #DavidicCovenant, where David's line is chosen to rule, eventually leading to the #Messiah, Jesus Christ, who fulfills God’s promise of an everlasting kingdom (refer to [[2 Samuel/2 Samuel Chapter 7]]). ### The Preservation of David's Line The sparing of #Mephibosheth, the son of #Jonathan, due to David’s oath to Jonathan (verse 7), underscores God’s faithfulness to His promises and serves as a precursor to the preservation of the #Davidic line. This preservation is critical in the unfolding of redemptive history, wherein Jesus, as the descendant of David, fulfills the promise of an eternal kingdom (see [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 1]]). ### The Avenging of Blood and Justice The events of this chapter also reflect the #Torah’s principles of justice and atonement for bloodguilt, as seen in passages like [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 35]] and [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 19]]. These principles are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, whose sacrificial death brings reconciliation and atonement for humanity’s sins, embodying the ultimate fulfillment of God’s justice and mercy. ## Verses - **2 Samuel 21:1** - "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.'" - Note: The Gibeonites are mentioned in [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 9]] where they made a covenant with Israel. #David #Saul #Gibeonites - **2 Samuel 21:2** - "So the king summoned the Gibeonites. They were not part of Israel but were all that was left of the nation of the Amorites. The people of Israel had sworn not to kill them, but Saul, in his zeal for Israel and Judah, had tried to wipe them out." - Note: Saul's actions were a violation of the covenant made in [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 9]]. #Saul #Gibeonites #Amorites - **2 Samuel 21:3** - "David asked them, 'What can I do for you? How can I make amends so that you will bless the Lord’s people again?'" - Note: David seeks to make atonement for the sins of Saul. #David - **2 Samuel 21:4** - "'Well, money can’t settle this matter between us and the family of Saul,' the Gibeonites replied. 'Neither can we demand the life of anyone in Israel.' 'What can I do then?' David asked. 'Just tell me and I will do it for you.'" - Note: The Gibeonites emphasize their inability to seek monetary compensation or vengeance. #Gibeonites - **2 Samuel 21:5** - "Then they replied, 'It was Saul who planned to destroy us, to keep us from having any place at all in the territory of Israel.'" - Note: The Gibeonites recount Saul’s attempt to exterminate them. #Saul #Gibeonites - **2 Samuel 21:6** - "So let seven of Saul’s sons be handed over to us, and we will execute them before the Lord at Gibeon on the mountain of the Lord.' 'All right,' the king said, 'I will do it.'" - Note: The Gibeonites request the execution of seven of Saul’s descendants as atonement. #Saul #Gibeonites #David - **2 Samuel 21:7** - "The king spared Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who was Saul’s grandson, because of the oath David and Jonathan had sworn before the Lord." - Note: David honors his covenant with Jonathan found in [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 20]]. #Jonathan #Mephibosheth - **2 Samuel 21:8** - "But he gave them Saul’s two sons Armoni and Mephibosheth, whose mother was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. He also gave them the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab, the wife of Adriel son of Barzillai from Meholah." - Note: This is a different Mephibosheth than Jonathan's son. #Rizpah #Merab #Saul - **2 Samuel 21:9** - "The men of Gibeon executed them on the mountain before the Lord, so all seven of them died together at the beginning of the barley harvest." - Note: The execution takes place at the start of the barley harvest, a time of renewal. #Gibeonites - **2 Samuel 21:10** - "Then Rizpah daughter of Aiah, the mother of two of the men, spread burlap on a rock and stayed there the entire harvest season. She prevented the scavenger birds from tearing at their bodies during the day and stopped wild animals from eating them at night." - Note: Rizpah’s mourning and protection of the bodies is an act of devotion. #Rizpah - **2 Samuel 21:11** - "When David learned what Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done," - Note: Rizpah is identified as Saul’s concubine. #Rizpah #Saul - **2 Samuel 21:12** - "he went to the people of Jabesh-gilead and retrieved the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. When the Philistines had killed Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa, the people of Jabesh-gilead stole their bodies from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them." - Note: David retrieves the bones of Saul and Jonathan, respecting them in death. See [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 31]] for their deaths. #Saul #Jonathan #David - **2 Samuel 21:13** - "So David obtained the bones of Saul and Jonathan, as well as the bones of the men the Gibeonites had executed." - Note: David combines the burying of these bones as a means of closure. #Saul #Jonathan #David - **2 Samuel 21:14** - "Then the king ordered that they bury the bones in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father, at the town of Zela in the land of Benjamin. After that, God ended the famine in the land." - Note: The proper burial leads to divine favor and the end of the famine. #Saul #Kish #David - **2 Samuel 21:15** - "Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted." - Note: The ongoing conflict with the Philistines continues. #Philistines #David - **2 Samuel 21:16** - "Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants; his bronze spearhead weighed more than seven pounds, and he was armed with a new sword. He had cornered David and was about to kill him." - Note: Ishbi-benob, a giant, poses a threat to David. #Giants #David - **2 Samuel 21:17** - "But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue and killed the Philistine. Then David’s men declared, 'You are not going out to battle with us again! Why risk snuffing out the light of Israel?'" - Note: Abishai saves David, illustrating loyalty and protection. #Abishai #David - **2 Samuel 21:18** - "After this, there was another battle against the Philistines at Gob. As they fought, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, another descendant of the giants." - Note: Sibbecai kills another giant, Saph. #Giants - **2 Samuel 21:19** - "During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath. The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!" - Note: Elhanan kills a relative of Goliath, linking back to [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 17]]. #Goliath - **2 Samuel 21:20** - "In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants." - Note: The giant described here has extraordinary features. #Giants - **2 Samuel 21:21** - "But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimea." - Note: Jonathan, David’s nephew, defeats this unusual giant. #Jonathan - **2 Samuel 21:22** - "These four Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them." - Note: The defeats of these giants emphasize God’s strength through David’s men. #Giants #David ### Cross-References by Chapter - **Gibeonites and the Covenant** - [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 9]] - **Saul and Jonathan’s Death** - [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 31]] - **David and Goliath** - [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 17]] - **David’s Covenant with Jonathan** - [[1 Samuel/1 Samuel Chapter 20]]