2 Samuel 21:1-2 NLT,NIV,ESV

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 21:1

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... read more

John Gill

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

And the king called the Gibeonites ,.... Sent messengers unto them, and summoned them to come to him: and said unto them ; what is expressed in 2 Samuel 21:3 ; for what follows is in a parenthesis: (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel ; originally, though they were proselyted to the Jewish religion, and were employed in the menial services of the sanctuary: but of the remnant of the Amorites ; they were the remains of the old Canaanites, who sometimes in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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. read more

Adam Clarke

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

The remnant of the Amorites - The Gibeonites were Hivites, not Amorites, as appears from Joshua 11:19 ; : but Amorites is a name often given to the Canaanites in general, Genesis 15:16 ; Amos 2:9 , and elsewhere. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1

EXPOSItION There was a famine in the days of David; Hebrew, and there was. There is an entire absence of any mark of time to show in what part of David's reign this famine took place. It does not even follow, from the mention of Mephibosheth's name, that it must have happened at a time subsequent to the sending for that prince from Machir's house; for it may have been the search after the descendants of Saul which made David remember the son of his old friend. The burial, however,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1

Seeking God's face. "David sought the face of the Lord" (Revised Version). The Authorized Version has here "inquired of the Lord," as in 2 Samuel 2:1 , where it is the translation of a different phrase. Doubtless the substantial meaning is the same. But, as with words, so with phrases, two are seldom wholly synonymous; and the differences are often instructive, suggesting each its own train of thought. So it is with these two phrases. That in the Revised Version leads us to think of— ... 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 21:2

Saul sought to slay them in his zeal. We gather from various incidental circumstances that Saul, in some part of his reign, manifested great zeal in an attempt to carry out literally the enactments of the Levitical Law; but he seems to have done so with the same ferocity as that which he displayed in slaughtering the priests at Nob with their wives and children. Thus he had put to death wizards and all who dealt with familiar spirits ( 1 Samuel 28:9 ), in accordance with Exodus 22:18 and... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 21:1

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

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:2

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