Background and Context:
The event of David consulting the Gibeonites is recorded in 2 Samuel 21:1-14. This narrative occurs during the reign of King David, a period marked by both military success and internal challenges for the nation of Israel. The Gibeonites were a group of people who lived in the land of Canaan and had made a treaty with Israel during the time of Joshua (Joshua 9). Despite their Canaanite origin, they were under Israel's protection due to this covenant.

The Famine:
The account begins with a severe famine that lasted for three consecutive years during David's reign. Seeking to understand the cause of this calamity, David inquired of the LORD. The response he received was that the famine was a result of bloodguilt on Saul and his house because he had put the Gibeonites to death. This act was a violation of the oath made by Israel to protect the Gibeonites, and it brought divine displeasure upon the land.

David's Inquiry:
In response to this revelation, David summoned the Gibeonites to address the issue and seek a resolution. The Gibeonites were not Israelites but were remnants of the Amorites, and the Israelites had sworn to spare them. David asked them, "What shall I do for you? How can I make atonement so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?" (2 Samuel 21:3).

The Gibeonites' Request:
The Gibeonites declined any monetary compensation or the execution of any Israelites except for the descendants of Saul, who had sought to annihilate them. They requested that seven of Saul's male descendants be handed over to them to be executed and exposed before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the former king's hometown.

David's Decision:
David agreed to their request but spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan and grandson of Saul, due to the oath David had made with Jonathan. Instead, David selected two sons of Rizpah, Saul's concubine, and five sons of Merab, Saul's daughter, whom she had borne to Adriel. These seven were handed over to the Gibeonites, who executed them on the mountain before the LORD.

Aftermath and Divine Response:
Rizpah, the mother of two of the executed men, displayed a poignant act of mourning and protection over the bodies until rain fell from the heavens, signifying the end of the famine. David, moved by her devotion, retrieved the bones of Saul and Jonathan from Jabesh-gilead and gave them a proper burial in the tomb of Kish, Saul's father. Following these actions, God responded to the plea for the land, and the famine was lifted.

Theological Implications:
This narrative underscores the seriousness with which God regards covenants and oaths. The breach of the treaty with the Gibeonites by Saul brought about divine judgment, highlighting the importance of faithfulness and integrity in dealings. It also reflects the principle of corporate responsibility and the consequences of sin affecting a broader community. David's actions in seeking atonement and restoring justice demonstrate the role of a godly leader in addressing past wrongs and seeking reconciliation with both God and man.