Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 21

Introduction

Overview

2 Samuel 21:1, The three years’ famine for the Gibeonites ceases, by hanging seven of Saul’s sons; 2 Samuel 21:10, Rizpah’s kindness unto the dead; 2 Samuel 21:12, David buries the bones of Saul and Jonathan in his father’s sepulchre; 2 Samuel 21:15, Four battles against the Philistines, wherein four valiants of David slay four giants.

Verse 1

am 2986, bc 1018, An, Ex, Ex, Is, 473

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

Verse 2

now the: Joshua 9:3-21

the Amorites: The Gibeonites were Hivites, not Amorites, as appears from Joshua 6:19, but Amorites is a name often given to the Canaanites in general. Genesis 15:16

in his zeal: Deuteronomy 7:16, 1 Samuel 14:44, 1 Samuel 15:8, 1 Samuel 15:9, 2 Kings 10:16, 2 Kings 10:31, Luke 9:54, Luke 9:55, John 16:2, Romans 10:2, Galatians 4:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:7 - guiltless Exodus 23:32 - shalt make Deuteronomy 7:2 - make no Joshua 2:17 - General Joshua 5:1 - all the kings Joshua 6:22 - as ye sware unto her Joshua 9:15 - made peace 1 Kings 2:43 - Why 1 Kings 15:19 - break thy league 1 Chronicles 1:14 - Amorite 2 Chronicles 16:3 - break 2 Chronicles 36:13 - who had Nehemiah 3:7 - the Gibeonite Esther 9:27 - and upon their seed Psalms 15:4 - sweareth Ezekiel 17:16 - whose oath Acts 22:3 - was Philippians 3:6 - zeal Hebrews 6:16 - an oath

Verse 3

wherewith: Exodus 32:30, Leviticus 1:4, 1 Samuel 2:25, Micah 6:6, Micah 6:7, Hebrews 9:22, Hebrews 10:4-12

bless: 2 Samuel 20:19

Reciprocal: Exodus 30:15 - give less than Numbers 25:13 - atonement 2 Samuel 24:21 - the plague 1 Kings 1:47 - bless Psalms 28:9 - bless Galatians 3:13 - for

Verse 4

We will: etc. or, It is not silver nor gold that we have to do with Saul, or his house; neither pertains it to us to kill, etc. no silver. Psalms 49:6-8, 1 Peter 1:18, 1 Peter 1:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 30:31 - General

Verse 5

The man: 2 Samuel 21:1, Esther 9:24, Esther 9:25, Matthew 7:2

devised: or, cut us off, Daniel 9:26

Verse 6

Let seven: As God accepted the expiation here demanded, we must suppose that both the enquiry of David, and the answer of the Gibeonites, were directed by some open or secret intimation from him.

hang: 2 Samuel 17:23, 2 Samuel 18:10, Genesis 40:19, Genesis 40:22, Numbers 25:4, Numbers 25:5, Deuteronomy 21:22, Joshua 8:29, Joshua 10:26, Ezra 6:11, Esther 9:10, Esther 9:13, Esther 9:14, Matthew 27:5

in: 1 Samuel 10:26, 1 Samuel 11:4

whom the Lord did choose: or, the chosen of the Lord, 1 Samuel 9:16, 1 Samuel 9:17, 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 10:24, Acts 13:21

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:5 - visiting Deuteronomy 21:23 - he that is hanged is accursed of God 1 Samuel 13:2 - in Gibeah 1 Samuel 24:21 - that thou 2 Samuel 21:9 - before the Lord 1 Chronicles 2:49 - Gibea 1 Chronicles 12:3 - Gibeathite Hosea 5:8 - Gibeah

Verse 7

Mephibosheth: 2 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 9:10, 2 Samuel 16:4, 2 Samuel 19:25

because: 1 Samuel 18:3, 1 Samuel 20:8, 1 Samuel 20:15, 1 Samuel 20:17, 1 Samuel 20:42, 1 Samuel 23:18

Reciprocal: Leviticus 5:4 - to do evil Joshua 2:17 - General Joshua 6:22 - as ye sware unto her Joshua 9:18 - had sworn Proverbs 18:24 - that hath Proverbs 27:10 - own

Verse 8

Rizpah: 2 Samuel 3:7

and the five sons: This Adriel did not marry Michal, Saul's younger daughter, but Merab, 1 Samuel 18:19, Michael being married to David, and afterwards to Phaltiel; though it is here said she bore (yaledah) not brought up, as falsely rendered, five sons to Adriel. Two of Dr. Kennicott's manuscripts, however, have Merab, instead of Michal; the Syriac and Arabic have Nadab; and the Chaldee renders the passage thus: "And the five sons of Merab which Michal the daughter of Saul brought up, which she brought forth to Adriel the son of Barzillai."

Michal: or, Michal's sister, 1 Samuel 18:19

brought up for: Heb. bare to

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 20:16 - Let the Lord 2 Samuel 21:10 - Rizpah Psalms 109:14 - Let the Jonah 1:15 - they

Verse 9

before the Lord: 2 Samuel 21:6, 2 Samuel 6:17, 2 Samuel 6:21, Exodus 20:5, Numbers 35:31-34, Deuteronomy 21:1-9, 1 Samuel 15:33, 2 Kings 24:3, 2 Kings 24:4

in the beginning: This happened in Judea about the vernal equinox, or 21st of March Ruth 1:22

Reciprocal: Numbers 25:4 - and hang Deuteronomy 21:22 - thou hang Joshua 10:26 - hanged 2 Samuel 4:12 - hanged 2 Samuel 21:10 - from the Esther 9:13 - let Haman's ten sons be hanged Psalms 109:14 - Let the Jonah 1:15 - they Galatians 3:13 - for

Verse 10

Rizpah: 2 Samuel 21:8, 2 Samuel 3:7

took sackcloth: 1 Kings 21:27, Joel 1:18

from the: 2 Samuel 21:9, Deuteronomy 21:13

until water: Some suppose that this means a providential supply of rain, in order to remove the famine; but from the manner in which it is introduced, it seems to denote the autumnal rains, which commence about October. For five months did this broken-hearted woman watch by the bodies of her sons! Deuteronomy 11:14, 1 Kings 18:41-45, Jeremiah 5:24, Jeremiah 5:25, Jeremiah 14:22, Hosea 6:3, Joel 2:23, Zechariah 10:1

the birds: Genesis 40:19, Ezekiel 39:4

Reciprocal: Job 37:13 - for mercy Proverbs 30:17 - the ravens

Verse 11

told David: 2 Samuel 2:4, Ruth 2:11, Ruth 2:12

Verse 12

the bones of Saul: 2 Samuel 2:5-7, 1 Samuel 31:11-13

Bethshan: Joshua 17:11, Beth-shean, 1 Samuel 31:10

in Gilboa: 2 Samuel 1:6, 2 Samuel 1:21, 1 Samuel 28:4, 1 Samuel 31:1, 1 Chronicles 10:1, 1 Chronicles 10:8

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 31:13 - their bones 1 Chronicles 10:12 - the oak Psalms 32:3 - When

Verse 14

buried: 2 Samuel 3:32, 2 Samuel 4:12

Zelah: Joshua 18:28, 1 Samuel 10:2, Zelzah

God: 2 Samuel 24:25, Exodus 32:27-29, Numbers 25:13, Joshua 7:26, 1 Kings 18:40, 1 Kings 18:41, Jeremiah 14:1-7, Joel 2:18, Joel 2:19, Amos 7:1-6, Jonah 1:15, Zechariah 6:8

Reciprocal: Numbers 25:11 - turned my Deuteronomy 19:13 - but thou 1 Kings 18:45 - there was 1 Chronicles 21:7 - he smote Job 37:13 - for mercy Ezekiel 16:42 - will I

Verse 15

the Philistines: 2 Samuel 5:17, 2 Samuel 5:22, 1 Chronicles 20:4

and David waxed faint: Joshua 14:10, Joshua 14:11, Psalms 71:9, Psalms 71:18, Psalms 73:26, Ecclesiastes 12:3, Isaiah 40:28-30, Jeremiah 9:23, Jeremiah 9:24, 1 Peter 1:24, 1 Peter 1:25

Reciprocal: Genesis 6:4 - giants 2 Samuel 8:1 - And after Psalms 9:5 - rebuked Psalms 18:38 - General Psalms 60:8 - triumph Psalms 108:9 - over Philistia

Verse 16

of the sons: Genesis 6:4, Numbers 13:32, Numbers 13:33, Deuteronomy 1:28, Deuteronomy 2:10, Deuteronomy 2:21, Deuteronomy 3:11, Deuteronomy 9:2, 1 Samuel 17:4, 1 Samuel 17:5

the giant: or, Rapha, 2 Samuel 21:18, 2 Samuel 21:20, *marg. 2 Samuel 5:18, Genesis 14:5

whose spear: Heb. the staff, or, the head

thought: 1 Samuel 17:45-51

Reciprocal: Joshua 11:22 - only in Gaza Psalms 33:16 - mighty Psalms 87:4 - this man Psalms 144:10 - who delivereth Hebrews 11:34 - escaped

Verse 17

Abishai: 2 Samuel 20:6-10

succoured: 2 Samuel 22:19, Psalms 46:1, Psalms 144:10

Thou shalt: 2 Samuel 18:3

quench: 2 Samuel 14:7, 1 Kings 11:36, 1 Kings 15:4, Psalms 132:17, John 1:8, John 1:9, John 5:35

light: Heb. candle, or lamp

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:23 - and all this Deuteronomy 31:2 - I can no more 1 Chronicles 11:20 - Abishai 1 Chronicles 18:12 - Moreover Jeremiah 40:15 - wherefore Acts 19:30 - the disciples Hebrews 11:34 - escaped

Verse 18

Sibbechai: 1 Chronicles 11:29, 1 Chronicles 20:4

Saph: or, Sippai, 1 Chronicles 20:4

the giant: or, Rapha, 2 Samuel 21:16, 2 Samuel 21:20, *marg.

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 17:8 - mighty men 1 Chronicles 27:11 - Sibbecai

Verse 19

Elhanan: etc. Instead of את גלית יערי ארגיס בית הלחמי, of the text, we should certainly read, as in the parallel text, "and Elhanan the son of Jair, slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath." 1 Chronicles 11:26

Jaareoregim: or, Jair, 1 Chronicles 20:5

Goliath: 1 Samuel 17:4-11

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 17:7 - the staff

Verse 20

yet a battle: 1 Chronicles 20:6

the giant: or, Rapha, 2 Samuel 21:16, 2 Samuel 21:18, *marg.

Reciprocal: Numbers 13:32 - men of a great stature Numbers 13:33 - saw the giants Isaiah 45:14 - men of stature

Verse 21

defied: or, reproached, 1 Samuel 17:10, 1 Samuel 17:25, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, 2 Kings 19:13

Jonathan: 1 Chronicles 27:32

Shimeah: 1 Samuel 16:9, 1 Samuel 17:3, Shammah, 1 Chronicles 2:13, Shimma

Reciprocal: Numbers 23:7 - defy Israel 1 Samuel 17:13 - Shammah

Verse 22

four: 1 Chronicles 20:8

fell by: Joshua 14:12, Psalms 60:12, Psalms 108:13, Psalms 118:15, Ecclesiastes 9:11, Jeremiah 9:23, Romans 8:31, Romans 8:37

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 6:17 - Gath