<h3>The Gibeonites Avenged</h3>21 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3 David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?” 4 The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.” “What do you want me to do for you?” David asked. 5 They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen one.”So the king said, “I will give them to you.” 7 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning. 10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night. 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land. <h3>Wars Against the Philistines </h3> 15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished. ” 18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha. 19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod. 20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him. 22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

2 Samuel 21:1

During the reign of David, there was a famine<cr>1</cr> for three successive years; so David sought<cr>2</cr> the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

The king summoned the Gibeonites<cr>1</cr> and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.)

2 Samuel 21:2

David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”<cr>1</cr>

2 Samuel 21:3

The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”<cr>1</cr> <pb/>“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.

2 Samuel 21:4

They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel,

2 Samuel 21:5

let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed<cr>1</cr> before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen<cr>2</cr> one.”<pb/>So the king said, “I will give them to you.”

2 Samuel 21:6

The king spared Mephibosheth<cr>1</cr> son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath<cr>2</cr> before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

2 Samuel 21:7

But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah,<cr>1</cr> whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,<ft>1</ft> whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.<cr>2</cr>

2 Samuel 21:8

He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death<cr>1</cr> during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.<cr>2</cr>

2 Samuel 21:9

Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.<cr>1</cr>

2 Samuel 21:10

When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done,

2 Samuel 21:11

he went and took the bones of Saul<cr>1</cr> and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead.<cr>2</cr> (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan,<cr>3</cr> where the Philistines had hung<cr>4</cr> them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.)<cr>5</cr>

2 Samuel 21:12

David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.

2 Samuel 21:13

They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela<cr>1</cr> in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that,<cr>2</cr> God answered prayer<cr>3</cr> in behalf of the land.<cr>4</cr>

2 Samuel 21:14

2 Samuel 21:15

Once again there was a battle between the Philistines<cr>1</cr> and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted.

And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels<ft>1</ft> and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David.

2 Samuel 21:16

But Abishai<cr>1</cr> son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp<cr>2</cr> of Israel will not be extinguished.<cr>3</cr> ”

2 Samuel 21:17

In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai<cr>1</cr> the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

2 Samuel 21:18

In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair<ft>1</ft> the Bethlehemite killed the brother of<ft>2</ft> Goliath the Gittite,<cr>1</cr> who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.<cr>2</cr>

2 Samuel 21:19

In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha.

2 Samuel 21:20

When he taunted<cr>1</cr> Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah,<cr>2</cr> David’s brother, killed him.

2 Samuel 21:21

These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

2 Samuel 21:22

 1 During the reign of David, there was a famine   for three successive years; so David sought   the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” 2 The king summoned the Gibeonites   and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3 David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”   4 The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”   “What do you want me to do for you?” David asked. 5 They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed   before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen   one.” So the king said, “I will give them to you.” 7 The king spared Mephibosheth   son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath   before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah,   whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,  whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.   9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death   during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.   10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.   11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul   and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead.   (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan,   where the Philistines had hung   them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.)   13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela   in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that,   God answered prayer   in behalf of the land.   15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines   and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels  and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai   son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp   of Israel will not be extinguished.  ” 18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai   the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha. 19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair  the Bethlehemite killed the brother of  Goliath the Gittite,   who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.   20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted   Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah,   David’s brother, killed him. 22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

2 Samuel21 - NIV

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