Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1-9

Here I. Were are told of the injury which Saul had, long before this, done to the Gibeonites, which we had no account of in the history of his reign, nor should we have heard of it here but that it came now to be reckoned for. The Gibeonites were of the remnant of the Amorites (2 Sam. 21:2), who by a stratagem had made peace with Israel, and had the public faith pledged to them by Joshua for their safety. We had the story Josh. 9:1-27, where it was agreed (21-23) that they should have their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:7

But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul ,.... As they did not name particular persons, only required seven sons, it was at the option of the king what sons to deliver to them, and therefore kept back Mephibosheth, who is thus described, to distinguish him from a son of Saul's of the same name, after mentioned: because of the Lord's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul ; not merely or only out of affection to Mephibosheth,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:8

But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah ,.... Saul's concubine, 2 Samuel 3:7 , whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth ; of whom we read nowhere else; after the name of the latter, it is probable, Jonathan's son was called, before mentioned: and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite ; Michal had no children to the day of her death, nor was she the wife of Adriel, but Merab her... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:8

Five sons of Michal - whom she brought up - Michal, Saul's daughter, was never married to Adriel, but to David, and afterwards to Phaltiel; though it is here said she bore ילדה yaledah , not brought up, as we falsely translate it: but we learn from 1 Samuel 18:19 , that Merab, one of Saul's daughters, was married to Adriel. Two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. have Merab, not Michal; the Syriac and Arabic have Nadab; the Chaldee has properly Merab; but it renders the passage... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1-14

A story of deferred retribution. The facts are: 1 . A famine continuing for three years, and inquiry being made of the Lord by David, he is informed that it was in consequence of Saul's sin in slaying the Gibeonites. 2 . David, asking of the Gibeonites what he shall do for them by way of atonement for the wrong done, is informed that they seek not gold or the life of any man of Israel, but require that seven of Saul's family should be put to death, and hung up in Gibeah of Saul. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1-14

( GIBEON , GIBEAH .) Famine. "And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year" ( 2 Samuel 21:1 ). [ Summary of the remaining portion (or appendix) of this book: 1 . The famine. 2 . Victorious acts in wars with the Philistines ( 2 Samuel 21:15-22 ). 3 . David's song of thanksgiving (looking backward); 2 Samuel 22:1-51 4. 2 Samuel His last prophetic words (looking forward); 2 Samuel 23:1-7 . These two lyrical and prophetic productions... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:8

Michal . It was Merab who became the wife of Adriel the Meholathite ( 1 Samuel 18:19 ). Michal was childless (see 2 Samuel 6:23 ). Whom she brought up for. This is one of the many cases of untrustworthiness in the renderings of the Authorized Version. We have noticed a very flagrant instance before in 2 Samuel 5:21 . The object of these mistranslations is always the same, namely, to remove some verbal discrepancy in the Hebrew text. The Hebrew says here "five sons of Michal, whom she... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:8-14

( GIBEAH .) Rizpah. "And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth," etc. (verse. 10; 2 Samuel 3:7 ). The days of harvest had come; but not the fruits of harvest. The heaven was brass, and the earth iron ( Deuteronomy 28:23 ). The misery of famine was accompanied by a sense of Divine wrath on account of sin. The guilt of blood was on the land, and especially on "the house of Saul," for the destruction of the Gibeonites. Nothing would satisfy the demand of the sorrowing... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 21:7

The Lord’s oath - The calamity brought upon Israel by Saul’s breach of the oath to the Gibeonites would make David doubly careful in the matter of his own oath to Jonathan. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 21:8

Rizpah - See the marginal reference. A foreign origin was possibly the cause of the selection of Rizpah’s sons as victims.Sons of Michal - An obvious error for “Merab” (1 Samuel 18:19 note). read more

Group of Brands