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2 Samuel 21

22 verses

TL;DR

A famine during David’s reign is linked to Saul’s sin, leading the Gibeonites to demand vengeance, while David retrieves Saul’s and Jonathan’s bones and defeats several Philistine giants.

Summary

During the third year of a famine, David asks God why the famine continues, and God explains it is due to Saul’s killing of the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites appeal to David for vengeance, demanding that seven of Saul’s sons be handed over to be hanged. David agrees, sparing only Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, because of the covenant between David and Jonathan. He then gives the Gibeonites the requested sons, who are executed and buried. The Gibeonites mourn by covering themselves with sackcloth until the harvest. In a parallel account, David retrieves the buried bones of Saul and Jonathan from Jabesh-gilead, reburies them in Benjamin, and later faces renewed Philistine attacks, defeating several giants including a son of Goliath and a man from Gath, with David’s son Jonathan (Shimeah’s son) killing the last giant.

Outline
  1. The famine’s divine cause and Gibeonite demands
  2. David’s execution and sparing of Mephibosheth
  3. Retrieval and burial of Saul and Jonathan’s bones, and battles with Philistine giants
Themes
Divine justice and covenantal faithfulnessRevenge versus mercyWar and the legacy of Saul’s sin
Keywords
famineatonementGibeonitesSaulJonathanMephiboshethgiantsPhilistinesbonescovenant
People
DavidSaulGibeonitesMephiboshethRizpahMichalAiahJabeshgileadIshbibenobAbishaiSibbechaiSaphElhananJaareoregimGoliathJonathan (son of Shimeah)
Places
GibeahGibeonZelahBethshanGilboaGobGath
Things
famineatonesgiants’ spears300-shekel brassnew swordbones of Saul and Jonathan
Key Verses
  • 2 Samuel 21:1: Explains the famine’s cause as Saul’s sin.
  • 2 Samuel 21:7: David’s mercy toward Mephibosheth due to covenant.
  • 2 Samuel 21:13-14: Retrieval and burial of Saul’s and Jonathan’s bones.
  • 2 Samuel 21:16-17: Abishai defeats the giant Ishbibenob.
  • 2 Samuel 21:19: Elhanan kills Goliath’s brother, illustrating divine favor.
  • 2 Samuel 21:21-22: Jonathan (son of Shimeah) slays a giant from Gath.
Questions
  • Why does God link the famine to Saul’s sin, and what does this reveal about divine justice?
  • What does David’s sparing of Mephibosheth suggest about covenantal loyalty?
  • How does the retrieval of Saul’s bones affect the nation’s perception of David’s reign?
  • What can we learn from the repeated encounters with Philistine giants?
  • In what ways does this chapter illustrate the tension between revenge and mercy?
Sentiment

mixed
Includes suffering, war, and divine intervention, balanced by acts of mercy and remembrance.