2 Samuel 21:3 NIV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:1-22

The Famine and some Exploits against the Philistines1. It is for Saul, and for his bloody house] rather, ’upon Saul and his house rests bloodshed.’ The Gibeonites] The lives of the Gibeonites had been spared, through fear of God’s anger being excited by any breach of the covenant made with them (Joshua 9, especially Joshua 9:20). 2. Amorites] Strictly speaking, the Gibeonites were Hivites (Joshua 9, 7), especially 2 Samuel 21:20). 2. Amorites] Strictly speaking, the Gibeonites were Hivites... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:1-25

These chapters contain six appendices, which have been placed at the end of the book in order not to interrupt the history of the reign. These appendices are (1) the account of a famine (2 Samuel 21:1-14); (2) exploits against the Philistines (2 Samuel 21:15-22); (3) a psalm of David (2 Samuel 22); (4) David’s last words (2 Samuel 23:1-7); (5) further exploits against the Philistines and a list of David’s heroes (2 Samuel 23:8-29); (6) the census of the people (2 Samuel 24). Of these six, the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 21:3

(3) Make the atonement.—This is the same technical word as is used throughout the Law in connection with the propitiatory sacrifices. It means literally, to cover up, and is here used in that literal sense. David asks what he can do to so cover up the sin of Saul as to remove it from the sight of those against whom it had been committed—the Gibeonites as the earthly sufferers from it, and God Himself as the one against whom he had chiefly offended. Then might God’s blessing again return to His... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Samuel 21:1-22

Rizpah 2 Samuel 21:0 Dr. John Brown's paragraphs on 'Rizpah' in 'Notes on Art'. Horæ Subsecivæ. References. XXI. 8-10. J. H. Jellett, The Elder Son, p. 90. XXI. 9. J. M. Neale, Sermons for Some Feast Days in the Christian Year, p. 103. XXI. 12-14. J. Mackay, Jonathan, the Friend of David, p. 217. XXII. 29. R. E. Hutton, The Crown of Christ, vol. i. p. 205. XXII. 36. A. MacLeod, Days of Heaven Upon Earth, p. 184. XXII. 40, 61. A. Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture 2 Samuel, etc.,... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1-14

CHAPTER XXVIIITHE FAMINE.2 Samuel 21:1-14.WE now enter on the concluding part of the reign of David. Some of the matters in which he was most occupied during this period are recorded only in Chronicles. Among these, the chief was his preparations for the building of the temple, which great work was to be undertaken by his son. In the concluding part of Samuel the principal things recorded are two national judgments, a famine and a pestilence, that occurred in David’s reign, the one springing... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Samuel 21:1-22

IV. THE APPENDIX TO THE HISTORY OF DAVID 1. The Famines and the Wars with the Philistines CHAPTER 21 1. The Famine and the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1-14 ) 2. The Wars with the Philistines (2 Samuel 21:15-22 ) The fourth section of the second book of Samuel is an appendix to the history of David. When the great famine happened in the days of David we do not know. After the famine had returned year after year, for three years, David inquired of the Lord. Why did he not inquire in the first... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Samuel 21:3

21:3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, {b} What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?(b) With what may your wrath be appeased, that you may pray to God to remove this plague from his people. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:1-22

We cannot say with certainty when the events of this chapter occurred, for they are not necessarily chronological, but spoken of as having taken place "in the days of David." God sent a famine in the land for three successive years before David finally inquired of the Lord for the reason of this. How insensitive even a believer may be to the reasons for God's dealing with him, -- in fact insensitive to the fact that his deeply felt trials are the dealings of God! God answers David that the... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1-22

BRINGING BACK THE KING AN OVERZEALOUS SE RV ANT (2 Samuel 19:1-8 ) Joab was to David what Bismarck was to King William. He had the same iron in his blood, but sometimes, like the latter, he overdid things. The kaiser was glad to be rid of Bismarck, and Joab’s conduct towards David is preparing the way for his successor. Those were too strong words he used in 2 Samuel 19:7 , and show the power he assumed over the army. A BACKWARD PEOPLE (2 Samuel 19:9-15 ) Judah, the king’s tribe,... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 2 Samuel 21:1-22

2 Samuel 21:0 The points in this chapter are few but significant. There was a famine in the days of David three years, year by year. A famine in Palestine was always a consequence of deficient winter rains, such a deficiency being by no means uncommon: but in this case the famine endured three successive years, and thus became alarming, and impelled men to ask religious questions and make religious arrangements. "David inquired of the Lord," in other words, he sought the face of the Lord. In... read more