2 Samuel 21:1-17 ▼

1 During the reign of David (beloved) there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD {YHWH}. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul (desired) and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites (little hill).”

2 At this, David summoned the Gibeonites (little hill) and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites (God prevails), but a remnant of the Amorites (sayers). The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah (praised), Saul (desired) had sought to kill them.)

3 So David (beloved) asked the Gibeonites (little hill), “What shall I do for you⁺? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD {YHWH}?”

4 The Gibeonites (little hill) said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul (desired) or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel (he wrestles with God) for us.” “Whatever you⁺ ask, I will do for you⁺,” he replied.

5 And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel (he wrestles with God),

6 let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them (expose them) before the LORD {YHWH} at Gibeah (hill) of Saul (desired), the chosen of the LORD.” “I will give them to you,” said the king.

7 Now the king spared Mephibosheth (exterminating the idol) son of Jonathan (YHWH has given), the son of Saul (desired), because of the oath before the LORD {YHWH} between David (beloved) and Jonathan son of Saul.

8 But the king took Armoni (one of the palace) and Mephibosheth (exterminating the idol), the two sons whom Rizpah (pavement) daughter of Aiah (falcon) had borne to Saul (desired), as well as the five sons whom Merab [Michal] daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel (flock of God) son of Barzillai (my iron) the Meholathite.

9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites (little hill), and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD {YHWH}. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

10 And Rizpah (pavement) the daughter of Aiah (falcon) took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies, she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

11 When David (beloved) was told what Saul’s (desired) concubine Rizpah (pavement), daughter of Aiah (falcon), had done,

12 he (beloved) went and took the bones of Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given) from the men of Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region), who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan (house of ease) where the Philistines (immigrants) had hung the bodies after they had struck down Saul at Gilboa (swollen heap).

13 So David had the bones of Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given) brought from there, and they also gathered the bones of those who had been hanged.

14 And they buried the bones of Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given) in Zela (a rib) in the land of Benjamin (son of the right hand), in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish (bent). After they had done everything the king had commanded, God {Elohim} answered their prayers for the land.

15 Once again the Philistines (immigrants) waged war against Israel (he wrestles with God), and David (beloved) and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted.

16 Then Ishbi-benob (his dwelling is in Nob), a descendant of Rapha (the giant), whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels <7.5 lb / 3.4 kg> and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David (beloved).

17 But Abishai (my father is a gift) son of Zeruiah (balsam) came to his aid, struck the Philistine (immigrants), and killed him. Then David’s (beloved) men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel (he wrestles with God) may not be extinguished.”