Summary: There was a three year famine in Israel (v.1). God did this because Saul had killed the Gibeonites. David asked these people how to make restitution (v.3). They asked for seven of Saul’s descendants to be killed (v.6), and David agreed (vv.6-7). The men were killed (v.9). David went on to bury the bones of Saul and Jonathan (v.14). As a result, God continued to answer prayer (v.14). Abishai protected David from a Philistine warrior (vv.16-17). Others were mighty warriors who came to destroy David, but he was protected by his men (vv.20-22).
(21:1) This seems to be the only reference to Saul (or his descendants?) killing the Gibeonites.
Why was God retroactively punishing Israel for something that Saul did with the Gibeonites? Moses recorded, “So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it” (Num. 35:33; cf. Deut. 19:10).
(21:2) Remember, Joshua had made this oath with the Gibeonites (Josh. 9:3, 15-20).
(21:3) David tracks down these remaining Amorites, and he asks them what he can do to make amends (or literally “make atonement”)[] for Saul’s murder and oath-breaking.
(21:4) The Gibeonites do not want money or murder.
(21:5-6) They ask for seven of Saul’s descendants to execute them (v.5), and David agrees with this request (v.6).
(21:7-8) David spared Mephibosheth, because of his oath to Jonathan (v.7), but he took seven of Saul’s grandsons to be executed (v.8).
(21:9) These seven men were executed by the Gibeonites.
(21:10) One of the mothers (Rizpah) publicly mourned her sons. Rizpah was one of Saul’s concubines (2 Sam. 3:7).
(21:11-14) Consequently, David gave her the bones of Saul and Jonathan (to console her?). He buried the entire family with their ancestor, Kish. In other words, David gave the mother a proper burial for her family line.
(21:15) David isn’t the young warrior that he used to be. He is getting older and “weary” of fighting.
(21:16) One of the Philistine giants (Ishbi-Benob) wanted to challenge David—perhaps to take revenge on him killing his ancestor “the giant” (Goliath? 1 Sam. 17). Ishbi-Benob’s spear is only half of the weight of Goliath’s (cf. 1 Sam. 17:7), but it still shows that he was a massive man.
(21:17) Abishai comes to David’s defense, and the two of them kill the giant warrior. After this episode, the men of Israel realize that David shouldn’t be out fighting anymore. He’s getting old, and it’s likely that he could get killed on the battlefield.
(21:18) Sibbecai kills another one of Goliath’s descendants. Sibbecai is one of David’s thirty mighty men (2 Sam 23:27).
(21:19) Elhanan kills Goliath the Gittite. The parallel passage states that Elhanan killed “the brother” of Goliah. This is a transmission error.
(2 Sam. 21:19)
(21:20-21) Jonathan—the son of Shimei—kills another one of Goliath’s descendents.
(21:22) These four giant heirs of Goliath were all killed by David and his men.
We’re not really sure what to do with David handing over seven men to be killed (v.6). This may have been a lesser of two evils.
James is an elder at Dwell Community Church, where he teaches classes in theology, apologetics, and weekly Bible studies.
