2 Samuel 21

Chap. XXI. Ver. 1—22. Three years’ famine, and its termination. War with the Philistines, and David’s success.— The Scriptures teach us to attribute all public calamities, as well as blessings, to the providence of God; and it was upon this principle that David inquired of the Lord, (by Urim probably,) what might be the cause of a famine for three successive years in Israel. The reply is, “for (on account of) Saul and his bloody house,” which is afterwards explained as referring to his attempt to extirpate the Gibeonites, with whom Joshua and the Israelites had made a covenant by oath. (See Josh. ch. ix.) But Saul, who was a great enthusiast, in a fit of religious zeal, attempted, notwithstanding, to destroy them, and probably did destroy many of them.

An example this but too generally followed: for many there have been, and still are, who think they render God service by destroying their fellow-creatures, either because they are not of the same colour, or the same religion with themselves. Saul, however, in thus doing, violated a national covenant and oath; and therefore did the justice of God require a sacrifice, the choice of which was referred to the injured Gibeonites, who demanded seven of Saul’s family, by way of atonement for this crime. When these or the following transactions took place, we know not. They appear to have been insulated facts, which being omitted in the general history, are here subjoined as a sort of appendix. A beautiful incident occurs among them, with respect to Rizpah, one of Saul’s concubines, which seems to have affected David, as it must every feeling mind, as an instance of extraordinary parental affection; and induced him to collect all the bones of Saul’s family, and honour them with sepulchral rites.

The close of the chapter mentions several encounters between the Israelites and certain Philistine giants. In one of these, it seems David, whose strength was now declining, and who was probably faint with marching, was in imminent danger, had he not been rescued by the assistance of Abishai. In another instance, the brother of Goliath, of Gath, came forward, and was slain by Elhanan; and his son, having on either hand six fingers, and on either foot six toes, by another of David’s heroes.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XXI. Ver. 1. It was for Saul, &c.—The first fourteen verses of this chapter contain circumstances so extraordinary, and which have been so much objected against, that Dr. Clarke seems to doubt their authenticity; at least he suspects that some Gibeonite must have corrupted them. To this we cannot listen, as we are not authorized to reject the facts of Scripture or other history, merely because we cannot account for them. The information respecting the Gibeonites is here too scanty to enable us to judge of either Saul’s crime or the equity of their demands; but it is not unlikely that the former was a continued series of cruel oppression, calculated to wear out their existence; and that the victims here demanded, were some of the most guilty instruments of Ver.

2. Remnant of the Amorites.—[The Gibeonites were Hivites, not Amorites, as appears from (Joshua 6:19).; but Amorites is a name often given to the Canaanites in general.]—Bagster. Ver. 4. We will have no silver, &c.—See Margin. That is, they neither wished to extort money from Saul’s family, nor would they take upon themselves to revenge his death; their demand was public justice. Ver. 5. Devised against us.—The Hebrew, Dimah, seems more literally to imply, oppression in the extreme; as we might say, “levelled to the dust.” See Parkhurst. (As God accepted the expiation here demanded, we must suppose that both the inquiry of David and the answer of the Gibeonites, were directed by some open or secret intimation from him.

)—Bagster. Ver. 6. Seven men of his sons.—That is, his family, including grandsons, or other descendants. Ver. 8. The two sons of Rizpah.—She was Saul’s concubine, whom Abner took, and for which he was reproved by Ish-bosheth, ch. iii. 7. The Mephibosheth here named must be distinguished from the son of Jonathan, mentioned in the verse preceding.—The five sons of Michal.—(This Adriel did not marry Michal, Saul’s younger daughter, but Merab. (1 Samuel 18:19).; Michal being married to David, and afterwards to Phaltiel; though it is here said, she bore, yaledah, not brought up, as falsely rendered, five sons to Adriel. Two of Dr. Kennicott’s MSS. however, have Merab, instead of Michal: the Syriac and Arabic have Nadab; and the Chaldee renders the passage thus: “And the five sons of Merab which Michal the daughter of Saul brought up, which she brought forth to Adriel the son of Barzillai.”)—Bagster.

Ver. 9. In the beginning of barley-harvest.—That is, equinox. Ver. 10. Until water dropped.—That is, until it rained. Dr. Clarke explains this of the autumnal rains, five months after; but it seems more probable that this shower of rain was given from heaven, as an indication that this sacrifice was accepted, and that their famine was at an end. Ver. 12. The bones of Saul, &c. stolen.—That is, taken secretly. See (1 Samuel 31:8-13). Ver. 13. At Gob.—Forty MSS. and several editions have Nod; but Gezer is the name in the parallel text, (1 Chronicles 20:4). Ver. 19. The brother of Goliath.—The present Hebrew text reads “Goliath” only: the words “the brother of,” are supplied from (2 Chronicles 20:5). and were probably dropped here by the oversight of a transcriber. See Kennicott. Ver. 20. On every hand six fingers, &c.—Tavernier informs us that the eldest son of the emperor of Java (1648) had the same. There are families in Prussia where this anomaly is said to be hereditary. And Pliny gives instances of alike nature. See Dr. Clarke, or Orient. Lit. No. 459.;