2 Samuel 21:8

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 21:8

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 21:8

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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 21:7-8

2 Samuel 21:7-8. The king spared, &c. For the Gibeonites desiring only such a number, it was at David’s choice whom to spare. The son of Jonathan This is added to distinguish him from the other Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 21:8. Because of the Lord’s oath, &c. This was a just reason for not delivering him up. The five sons of Michal, whom she brought up for Adriel In the original it is, whom she bare to Adriel. And as Michal was not the wife of Adriel, but her elder sister Merab,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1-22

21:1-24:25 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERSThe writer of 2 Samuel has finished his historical record of David’s reign. Since the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba, the writer has mainly been concerned with showing how this one event changed the course of David’s life. He now returns and records various other stories and poems to show other difficulties David faced during his reign. He shows also how God cared for him during those difficulties. (The story of David’s closing years is given in the opening... read more

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