2 Samuel 21:1

Contemporary English Version

While David was king, there were three years in a row when the nation of Israel could not grow enough food. So David asked the Lord for help, and the Lord answered, "Saul and his family are guilty of murder, because he had the Gibeonites killed."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
During David’s reign there was a famine for three successive years, so David inquired of the Lord. The Lord answered, “It is due to Saul and to his bloody family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

Hebrew Names Version
There was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, It is for Sha'ul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Giv`onim.

King James Version
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.

Lexham English Bible
There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David inquired of Yahweh, and Yahweh said, "The bloodguilt is on Saul and on his household, because he killed the Gibeonites."

English Standard Version
Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the Lord . And the Lord said, "There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death."

New Century Version
During the time David was king, there was a shortage of food that lasted for three years. So David prayed to the Lord . The Lord answered, "Saul and his family of murderers are the reason for this shortage, because he killed the Gibeonites."

New English Translation
During David's reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the Lord . The Lord said, "It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, because he murdered the Gibeonites."

Amplified Bible
There was famine in the days of David for three consecutive years; and David sought the presence (face) of the LORD [asking the reason]. The LORD replied, "It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death."

New American Standard Bible
Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the LORD. And the LORD said, "It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then there was a famine in the dayes of Dauid, three yeeres together: and Dauid asked counsell of the Lorde, and the Lorde answered, It is for Saul, & for his bloodie house, because hee slewe the Gibeonites.

Legacy Standard Bible
And there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of Yahweh. And Yahweh said, "It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death."

Complete Jewish Bible
In David's time there was a famine that lasted three years, and David consulted Adonai . Adonai said, "It is because of Sha'ul and his bloodstained house, because he put to death the people of Giv‘on."

Darby Translation
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for [his] house of blood, because he slew the Gibeonites.

Easy-to-Read Version
While David was king, there was a famine that continued for three years. So David prayed to the Lord . And the Lord answered, "Saul and his family of murderers are the reason for the famine, because he killed the Gibeonites."

George Lamsa Translation
THEN there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered. It is because of Saul and because of his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

Good News Translation
During David's reign there was a severe famine which lasted for three full years. So David consulted the Lord about it, and the Lord said, "Saul and his family are guilty of murder; he put the people of Gibeon to death."

Literal Translation
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 killed the Gibeonites.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
There was a derth also in Dauids tyme thre yeares together. And Dauid soughte the face of ye LORDE. And the LORDE sayde: Because of Saul and because of that bloudy housholde yt he slewe the Gibeonites.

American Standard Version
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.

Bible in Basic English
In the days of David they were short of food for three years, year after year; and David went before the Lord for directions. And the Lord said, On Saul and on his family there is blood, because he put the Gibeonites to death.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then there was an hunger in the dayes of Dauid three yeres together: And Dauid enquired of ye Lorde. And the Lorde aunswered: It is for Saul, and the house of blood, because he slue the Gibeonites.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said: 'It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.'

King James Version (1611)
Then there was a famine in the dayes of Dauid three yeeres, yeere after yeere, and Dauid enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloodie house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, There is guilt upon Saul and his house because of his bloody murder, whereby he slew the Gabaonites.

English Revised Version
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

Berean Standard Bible
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, "It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Also hungur was maad in the lond of Israel in the daies of Dauid, bi thre yeer contynueli. And Dauid counselide the answere of the Lord; and the Lord seide, For Saul, and his hows, and blood, for he killide men of Gabaon.

Young's Literal Translation
And there is a famine in the days of David three years, year after year, and David seeketh the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah saith, `For Saul and for the bloody house, because that he put to death the Gibeonites.'

Update Bible Version
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. And Yahweh said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, [It is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

World English Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, "It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites."

New Living Translation
There was a famine during David's reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the Lord about it. And the Lord said, "The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites."

New Life Bible
While David was king there was a time without food for three years. David went to the Lord. The Lord said, "It is because of Saul and his house of blood, for he put the Gibeonites to death."

New Revised Standard
Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord . The Lord said, "There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And there came to be a famine, in the days of David, for three years, year after year, so then David sought the face of Yahweh, - and Yahweh said - It respecteth Saul and his house, as to bloodshed, in that he put to death the Gibeonites.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And there was a famine in the days of David for three years successively: and David consulted the oracle of the Lord. And the Lord said: It is for Saul, and his bloody house, because he slow the Gabaonites.

Revised Standard Version
Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, "There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gib'eonites to death."

THE MESSAGE
There was a famine in David's time. It went on year after year after year—three years. David went to God seeking the reason. God said, "This is because there is blood on Saul and his house, from the time he massacred the Gibeonites."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the LORD. And the LORD said, "It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death."

Contextual Overview

¹ While David was king, there were three years in a row when the nation of Israel could not grow enough food. So David asked the Lord for help, and the Lord answered, "Saul and his family are guilty of murder, because he had the Gibeonites killed." ² The Gibeonites were not Israelites; they were descendants of the Amorites. The people of Israel had promised not to kill them, but Saul had tried to kill them because he wanted Israel and Judah to control all the land. David had the Gibeonites come, and he talked with them. ³ He said, "What can I do to make up for what Saul did, so that you'll ask the Lord to be kind to his people again?" ⁴ The Gibeonites answered, "Silver and gold from Saul and his family are not enough. On the other hand, we don't have the right to put any Israelite to death." David said, "I'll do whatever you ask." ⁵ They replied, "Saul tried to kill all our people so that none of us would be left in the land of Israel. ⁶ Give us seven of his descendants. We will hang these men near the place where the Lord is worshiped in Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, the Lord 's chosen king." "I'll give them to you," David said. ⁷ David had made a promise to Jonathan with the Lord as his witness, so he spared Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul. ⁸ But Saul and Rizpah the daughter of Aiah had two sons named Armoni and Mephibosheth. Saul's daughter Merab had five sons whose father was Adriel the son of Barzillai from Meholah. David took Rizpah's two sons and Merab's five sons and ⁹ turned them over to the Gibeonites, who hanged all seven of them on the mountain near the place where the Lord was worshiped. This happened right at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

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a famine: Genesis 12:10, Genesis 26:1, Genesis 41:57, Genesis 42:1, Genesis 43:1, Leviticus 26:19, Leviticus 26:20, Leviticus 26:26, 1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:2, 2 Kings 6:25, 2 Kings 8:1, Jeremiah 14:1-18

inquired: Heb. sought the face, etc

of the Lord: 2 Samuel 5:19, 2 Samuel 5:23, Numbers 27:21, 1 Samuel 23:2, 1 Samuel 23:4, 1 Samuel 23:11, Job 5:8-10, Job 10:2, Psalms 50:15, Psalms 91:15

It is: Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:11, Joshua 7:12

Saul: 1 Samuel 22:17-19

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:5 - visiting Exodus 20:7 - guiltless Exodus 23:32 - shalt make Exodus 33:7 - sought Leviticus 4:22 - a ruler hath sinned Deuteronomy 19:13 - but thou Joshua 2:17 - General Joshua 6:18 - and trouble it Joshua 9:3 - Gibeon Joshua 9:20 - lest wrath Ruth 1:1 - a famine 2 Samuel 21:5 - The man 2 Samuel 24:1 - again 2 Samuel 24:13 - seven 2 Kings 4:38 - a dearth 1 Chronicles 21:7 - he smote 1 Chronicles 21:12 - three years' famine Esther 9:27 - and upon their seed Psalms 15:4 - sweareth Psalms 26:9 - bloody men Psalms 27:4 - inquire Psalms 51:14 - Deliver Psalms 109:14 - Let the Proverbs 17:13 - General Jeremiah 32:18 - recompensest Jonah 1:11 - What Micah 6:9 - hear Haggai 1:6 - have Haggai 1:9 - Because 2 Timothy 3:3 - trucebreakers

Cross-References

Genesis 17:16
I will bless her, and you will have a son by her. She will become the mother of nations, and some of her descendants will even be kings.

Genesis 17:19
But God answered: No! You and Sarah will have a son. His name will be Isaac, and I will make an everlasting promise to him and his descendants.

Genesis 17:21
But your son Isaac will be born about this time next year, and the promise I am making to you and your family will be for him and his descendants forever.

Genesis 18:10
One of the guests was the Lord , and he said, "I'll come back about this time next year, and when I do, Sarah will already have a son." Sarah was behind Abraham, listening at the entrance to the tent.

Genesis 18:14
I am the Lord ! There is nothing too difficult for me. I'll come back next year at the time I promised, and Sarah will already have a son."

Genesis 21:17
When God heard the boy crying, the angel of God called out to Hagar from heaven and said, "Hagar, why are you worried? Don't be afraid. I have heard your son crying.

Genesis 21:20
God blessed Ishmael, and as the boy grew older, he became an expert with his bow and arrows. He lived in the Paran Desert, and his mother chose an Egyptian woman for him to marry.

Genesis 50:24
Before Joseph died, he told his brothers, "I won't live much longer. But God will take care of you and lead you out of Egypt to the land he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Exodus 3:16
Call together the leaders of Israel and tell them that the God who was worshiped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has appeared to you. Tell them I have seen how terribly they are being treated in Egypt,

Exodus 4:31
and everyone believed. They bowed down and worshiped the Lord because they knew that he had seen their suffering and was going to help them.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year,.... That is, three years running, one after another; some think this, though here related, was before the rebellions of Absalom and Sheba, and not after, and there are several things which may incline to it, as that the sin of Saul should otherwise be so long unpunished, and that the bones of Saul and Jonathan were not sooner removed, here related; and that there should be so many battles the Philistines after they were subdued, as recorded in this chapter; and in one of the Jewish e writings it is said, that this was the year after Saul was slain; though, in other copies of the same book, it is said to be thirty years after; and so in that Abarbinel used, and who is of the mind that what is here related stands in the order in which it was, and of the same opinion are some of our best chronologers f:

and David inquired of the Lord; before the high priest by Urim and Thummim, what should be the cause of the famine perhaps suspecting it was some sins of his; the first year he might take no notice of it, hoping for a more fruitful season the next year, it arising, as he might suppose, from some natural cause; the second year he might begin to think it was for some national sins, but might be remiss in his inquiry into them; but the third year he was alarmed, and concluded there was something extraordinary and special, and feared it was on his account, and this put him on making inquiry:

and the Lord answered, [it is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house; on account of the blood shed by him and his family; which answer must in a good measure relieve the mind of David, if he was fearful it was for his sins:

because he slew the Gibeonites: which was contrary to the oath that Joshua and all Israel had given them not to slay them, but save them alive, Joshua 9:15. When this was done is not certain; the Jews commonly say g that he slew them when he slew the priests at Nob, they being hewers of wood and drawers of water to them, and were slain with them; or because their maintenance depended on the priests, they being slain, it was in effect slaying them; but rather this refers to another time, and to other action or actions of Saul, who sought by various means to destroy these people, and root them out of the land. The Heathens had a notion that barrenness, unfruitfulness, and famine, were inflicted by God for murder. Philostratus h reports of the Ethiopian Indians, that for the murder of their king, Ganges, their ground was unfruitful, their cattle starved, their wives abortive, and their cities and houses fell to ruin, until the murderers were destroyed.

e Pirke Eliezer, c. 17. f Usser. Annal. Vet. Test. p. 55. Bedford's Scripture Chronology, p. 558. g T. Bab. Bava Kama, fol. 119. 1. h Vita Apollon. Tyanei, l. 3. c. 6.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

There is no note of time whatever, nor any clue as to what part of David’s reign the events of this chapter ought to be assigned.

Enquired of the Lord - Hebrew “sought the face of the Lord,” quite a different phrase from that so often used in Judges (e. g. Judges 1:1) and the Books of Samuel, and probably indicating that this chapter is from a different source; an inference agreeing with the indefinite “in the days of David,” and with the allusion to the slaughter of the Gibeonites, which has not anywhere been narrated.

And for his bloody house - literally, “the house of blood,” i. e., the house or family upon which rests the guilt of shedding innocent blood.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER XXI

A famine taking place three successive years in Israel, David

inquired of the Lord the cause; and was informed that it was

on account of Saul and his bloody house, who had slain the

Gibeonites, 1.

David inquires of the Gibeonites what atonement they require,

and they answer, seven sons of Saul, that they may hang them

up in Gibeah, 2 6.

Names of the seven sons thus given up, 7-9.

Affecting account of Rizpah, who watched the bodies through the

whole of the time of harvest, to prevent them frown being

devoured by birds and beasts of prey, 10.

David is informed of Rizpah's conduct, and collects the bones of

Saul, Jonathan, and the seven men that were hanged at Gibeah,

and buries them; and God is entreated for the land, 11-14.

War between the Israelites and Philistines, in which David is

in danger of being slain by Ishbi-benob, but is succoured by

Abishai, 15-17.

He, and several gigantic Philistines, are slain by David and his

servants, 18-22.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXI

Verse 2 Samuel 21:1. Then there was a famine — Of this famine we know nothing; it is not mentioned in any part of the history of David.

Because he slew the Gibeonites. — No such fact is mentioned in the life and transactions of Saul; nor is there any reference to it in any other part of Scripture.