2 Samuel 21: Bloodguilt and Giants
A three-year famine is answered by justice for the Gibeonites, Rizpah's vigil moves the king, and David's giants fall.
2 Samuel 21 (WEB)
1 There was a famine in the days of David 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 to death the Gibeonites.”
2 The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);
3 and David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of Yahweh?”
4 The Gibeonites said to him, “It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.” He said, “Whatever you say, that will I do for you.”
5 They said to the king, “The man who consumed us, and who devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel,
6 let seven men of his sons be delivered to us, and we will hang them up to Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Yahweh.” The king said, “I will give them.”
7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Yahweh’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
9 He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Yahweh, and all seven of them fell together. They were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.
10 Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night.
11 It was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
12 David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines killed Saul in Gilboa;
13 and he brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of those who were hanged.
14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. After that God was entreated for the land.
15 The Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. David grew faint;
16 and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being armed with a new sword, thought to have slain David.
17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go no more out with us to battle, that you don’t quench the lamp of Israel.”
18 It came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.
19 There was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite’s brother, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
21 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, killed him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
2 Samuel 21 (KJV)
1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)
3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord?
4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.
5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,
6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh–gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth–shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.
14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.
15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
16 And Ishbi–benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.
17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.
19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare–oregim, a Beth–lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
2 Samuel 21 (ASV)
1 And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.
2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);
3 and David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of Jehovah?
4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.
5 And they said unto the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel,
6 let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto Jehovah in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Jehovah. And the king said, I will give them.
7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bare to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Jehovah, and they fell all seven together. And they were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.
10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured upon them from heaven; and she suffered neither the birds of the heavens to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines slew Saul in Gilboa;
13 and he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.
14 And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.
15 And the Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. And David waxed faint;
16 and Ishbi-benob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.
17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the lamp of Israel.
18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.
19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Beth-lehemite slew Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20 And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David’s brother, slew him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
Summary
A famine grips the land three years running, and when David seeks the Lord he learns its cause: Saul had broken Israel's sworn oath by putting the Gibeonites to death. David summons the Gibeonites, who do not seek silver or gold but the handing over of seven of Saul's descendants. The king spares Mephibosheth for Jonathan's sake but delivers up seven others, who are executed before the Lord. Rizpah, mother of two of the slain, spreads sackcloth on the rock and keeps a long vigil, guarding the bodies from birds and beasts until the rains come. When David hears of her devotion, he gathers the bones of these men along with those of Saul and Jonathan and buries them honorably, and God is at last entreated for the land. The chapter then recalls renewed war with the Philistines, in which David, grown faint, is rescued by Abishai from a giant who meant to kill him. His men swear he shall go to battle no more, lest the lamp of Israel be quenched. Four descendants of the giant, including one with six fingers and six toes, fall by the hands of David's servants.
Main Characters
- David — The king who seeks the Lord over the famine, makes costly restitution for Saul's broken oath, and honors the dead with proper burial.
- The Gibeonites — The remnant Saul had wronged in breaking Israel's ancient oath, who seek justice rather than payment for the lives taken from them.
- Rizpah — Saul's concubine and mother of two of the slain, whose long, faithful vigil over the bodies moves David to honorable burial.
- Abishai — David's nephew and warrior, who rescues the weary king from the giant Ishbibenob in renewed war with the Philistines.
Key Verse
2 Samuel 21:1 (WEB)
There was a famine in the days of David 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 to death the Gibeonites.”
Lessons Learned
- Broken oaths and shed innocent blood are not forgotten by God, even years after the deed.
- When trouble comes, the wise first seek the Lord's face to understand its cause.
- Faithful love and grief, like Rizpah's vigil, can move hearts and call forth honor for the forgotten.
- God remains the true deliverer of his people, raising up helpers when his servants grow faint.
- God remembers covenant faithfulness. The famine comes “because he put to death the Gibeonites” (2 Samuel 21:1, WEB), the people Israel had sworn to protect. The Lord upholds the sanctity of oaths and innocent blood.
- Seek God before seeking solutions. “David sought the face of Yahweh” (2 Samuel 21:1, WEB) when the famine persisted. Discerning God's mind comes before acting on our own assumptions.
- Devoted love refuses to let go. Rizpah guards the bodies day and night until the rains (2 Samuel 21:10, WEB). Her steadfast grief shames neglect and stirs the king to honor the dead.
- God preserves the lamp of his people. When David grows faint, Abishai saves him so they “don’t quench the lamp of Israel” (2 Samuel 21:17, WEB). The Lord guards the line through which his promise runs.
- Why does God connect the famine to Saul's treatment of the Gibeonites years earlier?
- What does David's first response to the famine—seeking the Lord's face—model for us in times of trouble?
- How does Rizpah's vigil move David, and what does her faithfulness teach us about honoring the dead and the forgotten?
- What is the significance of David being rescued from the giant and forbidden to go to battle again?
- When you face prolonged trouble, are you quicker to seek quick fixes or to seek God's face? What might change if you sought him first?
- Israel had sworn an ancient oath to spare the Gibeonites, and Saul violated it by trying to destroy them; the blood-guilt lingered over the land (21:1-2). God takes covenants and innocent life seriously, and the famine was his way of bringing a buried injustice to light to be addressed.
- Rather than scramble for remedies, David inquires of the Lord and learns the real cause (21:1). It teaches us to begin with God in our distress, seeking his perspective rather than assuming we already understand why trouble has come.
- Rizpah's months-long watch over the exposed bodies, fending off birds and beasts, reaches the king and prompts him to bury the bones honorably (21:10-14). Her loyal grief models a love that dignifies even the dead and calls a community back to what is right.
- David, once the giant-slayer, now grows faint and must be saved, and his men resolve to protect him as the lamp of Israel (21:15-17). It shows that the kingdom's hope never rested in David's strength alone but in God, who preserves the royal line that points toward Christ.
- This is a personal-application question. David's instinct was to seek God's face when trouble dragged on. Invite members to reflect honestly on their own first responses to hardship, and to practice bringing prolonged trials to God in prayer before reaching for solutions. As leader, encourage a posture of dependent inquiry.