At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.) Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 21:2? 2. Why did Saul's actions against the Gibeonites anger God in 2 Samuel 21:2? 3. How does 2 Samuel 21:2 demonstrate the importance of honoring covenants? 4. What lessons can we learn about justice from 2 Samuel 21:2? 5. How can we apply the principle of restitution in our lives today? 6. What other biblical examples show the consequences of breaking covenants with others? 7. Why did Saul's actions lead to a famine in 2 Samuel 21:2? 8. How does 2 Samuel 21:2 reflect God's justice and mercy? 9. What is the significance of the Gibeonites in 2 Samuel 21:2? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 21? 11. In 2 Samuel 21:5–6, why does David permit the execution of Saul’s descendants if Deuteronomy 24:16 forbids punishing children for a parent’s wrongdoing? 12. Why was there a famine during David's reign? 13. What is the identity of the Gibeonites? 14. In 2 Samuel 21:19, how could Elhanan have killed Goliath when David is credited with that feat in 1 Samuel 17? Discussion Questions 1. How does the covenant with the Gibeonites in Joshua 9 inform our understanding of 2 Samuel 21:2, and what does it teach us about the importance of keeping our promises?2. In what ways can zeal for a cause lead to actions that are contrary to God's will, as seen in Saul's actions against the Gibeonites? 3. How can we apply the principle of seeking reconciliation, as demonstrated by David, in our own lives and relationships? 4. What are some modern-day examples of covenants or promises that Christians are called to honor, and how can we ensure we remain faithful to them? 5. How does the account of the Gibeonites and the Israelites illustrate the balance between God's justice and mercy, and how can we reflect these attributes in our interactions with others?1. How does the narrative of 2 Samuel 21 demonstrate the consequences of breaking covenants? 2. What does the treatment of the Gibeonites teach us about justice and atonement? 3. How did Rizpah's actions influence David's decision to bury the bones of Saul and his sons? What can we learn from Rizpah's act of love and defiance? 4. Explore the theme of loyalty in the chapter. How is it depicted and why is it significant? 5. Why was it important that the seven descendants of Saul were buried in the land of Benjamin? 6. How did David show respect towards his promise to Jonathan even when seeking atonement for Saul's sins? 7. How does the theme of retribution play out in the chapter? Do you agree with the form of retribution carried out? 8. Discuss the importance of David’s mighty warriors and their role in the narrative. How did their actions influence David's reign? 9. In modern times, how might we handle a situation like the famine and its proposed cause? How does this compare to David's response? 10. What does this chapter teach about leadership, both in the actions of Saul and David? 11. If you were in David's place, how would you have addressed the famine and its cause? 12. How do we see the intersection of faith, leadership, and warfare in this chapter? 13. In what ways does the story of David and his warriors encourage you to act in your current situation? 14. How can we apply the principle of honoring our promises in our lives today, as demonstrated by David's respect for his oath with Jonathan? 15. What role does courage play in this chapter, and how can it inspire us in our daily lives? 16. How does Rizpah's act of protecting her sons' bodies reflect on our responsibilities towards our loved ones? 17. In contemporary society, what equivalent actions might we undertake to seek justice, like the Gibeonites did? 18. How does the story of David's warriors defeating the Philistine giants inspire you to face your "giants" in life? 19. What does this chapter teach about the implications of past actions on present circumstances? 20. How does the narrative encourage us to face challenges and adversity, whether in personal life, work, or spiritual battles? Links 2 Samuel 21:2 NIV2 Samuel 21:2 NLT 2 Samuel 21:2 ESV 2 Samuel 21:2 NASB 2 Samuel 21:2 KJV 2 Samuel 21:2 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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