2 Samuel 21:1-22

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:10-14

Here we have, I. Saul's sons not only hanged, but hanged in chains, their dead bodies left hanging, and exposed, till the judgment ceased, which their death was to turn away, by the sending of rain upon the land. They died as sacrifices, and thus they were, in a manner, offered up, not consumed all at once by fire, but gradually by the air. They died as anathemas, and by this ignominious usage they were represented as execrable, because iniquity was laid upon them. When our blessed Saviour was... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:15-22

We have here the story of some conflicts with the Philistines, which happened, as it should seem, in the latter end of David's reign. Though he had so subdued them that they could not bring any great numbers into the field, yet as long as they had any giants among them to be their champions, they would never be quiet, but took all occasions to disturb the peace of Israel, to challenge them, or make incursions upon them. I. David himself was engaged with one of the giants. The Philistines began... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:3

Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, what shall I do for you ,.... By way of satisfaction for the injuries done them: and wherewith shall I make the atonement ; for the offences committed, that so the wrath that was gone forth against the land in a famine might be appeased: that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord ? pray for a blessing upon the land which the Lord had chosen for his inheritance, and given as such to the people of Israel, that rain might descend upon it, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:4

And, the Gibeonites said unto him ,.... In reply to his motion: we will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house ; this shall not be the ransom or atonement; it was not silver and gold Saul took from them, but the lives of their brethren, and therefore they insist upon life for life: neither for us shall thou kill any man in Israel ; who were not of the house of Saul; they did not desire any man should die, but who were of that family by whom they had suffered: and he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:5

And they answered the king ,.... Declaring expressly what they would have done: the man that consumed us; meaning Saul, who lessened their number by cruel oppressions of some, and by taking away the lives of others: and that devised against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel ; who had formed schemes, and published edicts, for banishing them out of the land; perhaps at the same time that he put away wizards and those that had familiar spirits... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:6

Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us ,.... They settled upon this number, either because they were seven, and no more of the Gibeonites, whom Saul slew, as the Jew say F9 T. Hieros. Kiddushin, fol. 65. 2. ; two hewers of wood, two drawers of water, a keeper (of a synagogue), a scribe, and a servant; but perhaps the true reason was, they knew there were no more besides Mephibosheth, for whom David had a great respect, and therefore required no more: and we will hang them up... 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

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