2 Samuel 21

David enquireth of God concerning the cause of the three years famine, and understand that it was because Saul had persecuted and slain the Gibeonites, he delivereth the Gibeonites at their request, seven persons of Sauls family, (sparing the son of Jonathan) whom they hung up, v 1 &c. Rispa preserveth the dead bodies, 10. David causeth the bones of Saul and Jonathan, as also the bones of them that were hung up, to be buried in Sauls sepulchre, 12. A relation of four wars of David against the Philistines, wherein four of the Philistines Giants are slain by David’s champions, 15.

1. And there was a famine in the days of David, three years; and David sought the face of the LORD: [To know of God by Urim and Thummim the cause of this death, and then to use convenient means to pacify Gods wrath. See Num.27.21.] and the LORD said; it is for Sauls, and for (his) bloody house sake, because he slew the Gibeonites. [contrary to the promise made to them, and ratified by Oath, as followeth. See Jos.9.15, 18, etc. For this offence all the land is punished, because the people had commanded Sauls perverse zeal, or at least (as it often happeneth) had not hindred it, nor any satisfaction was hitherto made to the Gibeonites for the same. Of this fact of Saul the holy scripture hitherto is altogether silent.]

2. Then the King called the Gibeonites, and said unto them: (now the Gibeonites they were not of the children of Israel; but of the remnant of the Amorites, [i.e. remaining of the former heathenish inhabitants of the Land of Canaan, whom God had commanded to destroy, and are generally called Amorites. Otherwise they were Hivites, Jos.9.7. and 11.19.] and the children of Israel had sworn unto them, [see Jos.9.19.] but Saul sought to smite them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Juda). [understand an irregular and feigned zeal, whereby he thought to mend that which by Josua and other godly Governours (according to his opinion) was neglected, to ill done. But it was directly against the oath, made by Gods name, by his special providence. For which thing God was now greatly provoked, as by this plague upon the land, and Gods answer appeareth.]

3. Then David said unto the Gibeonites; what shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that he [Heb. that they; to wit, your husband-men] may bless the inheritance of the LORD. [i.e. that ye may no more complain to God, but that ye may help to deprecate, or pray away this judgement from the people of God, (as chap.20.19.) and pray for all good to happen unto thee.]

4. Thenn said the Gibeonites unto him; we (require) not silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house, neither (do) we (require) any man to be killed in Israel: [excepting. Sauls house, as followeth] And he [viz. the King] said; what do ye say then that I shall do for you.

5. And they said unto the King; The man [i.e. Saul, so disdainfully they speak of him] that reduced us to nothing, and devised [intended, purposed, plotted, practised] against us, that we should be destroyed, without being able to subsist in any border of Israel;

6. Let seven men of his sons, [i.e. of his posterity, children, or children’s children, &c. pertaining to Sauls bloody house, mentioned ver.1.] be delivered to us, that we may hang them up unto the Lord [i.e. to his honour, by whose name the oath was made to spare us, or to pacify him] at Gibea of Saul, O thou chosen of the LORD: [as in tyhe former verse they spake contemptibly of Saul, so on the contrary in this verse they speak very reverently unto David. Oth. of the chosen of the LORD, understanding it of Saul whom they so called, to aggravate his offence committed on them against the oath of God] and the King said; I will deliver them.

7. But the King spared Mephiboseth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORDs oath that was between them, between David, and between Jonathan, the son of Saul. [see 1. Sam.18.3. and 26.15, 16, 17, 42. and 23.18.]

8. But the King took the two sons of Rispa [Sauls concubine: above ch.3.7. and below v.11.] the daughter of Aja, whom she had born unto Saul, Ammoni and Mephiboseth: besides the five sons of Michals (sister), [viz. Merah, who had been married to this Adriel here mentioned, 1 Sam.18.19. Thus the word brother is inserted below ver.19. and son, Jerem.32.12. Some understand here by Michals sons, her sister Merabs sons, whom Michals bred up, and in that respect was called their mother. Compare Ruth 4:17.] Sauls daughter whom she had born unto Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. [Heb. Mecholathite; of Manasseh on the west-side of Jordan, where Abel-mohela lay. See Judg.7.on v.22. to distinguish him from Barzillai the Gileadite, David’s friend, above chap.19.31, &c.]

9. And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, who hanged them upon the hill [At Gibea of Saul, as above v.6. not far from Silo, Gibeon and Nob in which places the tent of the congregation was. See above chap.6.on v.17.] before the face of the LORD, and those seven fell [i.e. perished] all together: And they were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first (days), in the beginning of barley-harvest.

10. Then Rispa the daughter of Aja, took a sack, [i.e. course cloth, like a rent, to abide under it both by night and by day, out of a motherly affection, by the dead bodies of the children, which otherwise by the Law, Deut.21.23. were usually taken down, and burned the same day. But it seemeth, that these were said to hang still, until God shewed by the rain, that he was appeased with the Land, forasmuch as God had occasioned the dearth or famine by immoderate drought] and stretched it out [oth. spread it] for her upon a rock, from the beginning of harvest, until there dropped water upon them [i.e. the dead bodies] from out of heaven; and she suffered not the fowls of heaven to rest upon them by day, nor the beast of the field by night. [preserve the dead bodies entire and unviolated for burial.]

11. And it was told David, what Rizpa, the brother of Aja, Sauls concubine had done.

12. Then David went his ways, and took the bones of Saul, and the bones Jonathan, his son, from the Citizens Of Joabs in Gilead, who had stolen them from the tree of Beth-San, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul on Gilboa. [viz. Mount-Gilboa. See the story, 1 Samuel 31:10, 11, 12, 13.]

13. And he brought up from thence, the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan, his son; [After that their bones were burnt, as may be gathered from 1 Sam.31.12. see there] they also gathered the bones of them that were hanged.

14. And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the Land of Benjamin at Zela, [See Jos.18.28.] in the Sepulchre of his Father Kis, [see 1 Sam.9.1, 2.] and did all that the King had commanded: Thus after this God was intreated for the Land. [i.e. the Israelites, the inhabitants of the Land, that he took away the judgement of famine, and gave rain again with fruitfulness. Compare below chap.24.25.]

15. Moreover, the Philistine had yet a war against Israel: [Oth. had had, etc. meaning that these wars against the Philistines are here onely related as a conclusion of David’s Victories, but were transacted long before] and David marched down, and his men with him, and fought against the Philistine, (so) that David waxed weary.

16. And Isbi Benob, who was of the children of Rapha; [Oth. Of the Giant, that dwelt at Gath, below ver.22. so in the sequel] and thw weight of his spear, [or. of the iron sharp, or, the head of his spear] (was) three hundred weight of copper, [see 1 Sam.17.on verse 5.] and he was girded with a new [or, a new; i.e. armed in a new manner, or fashion, not used heretofore in War] (sword) This (man) thought [Heb. said, viz. by himself; i.e. thought; as elsewhere] to smite David.

17. But Abisai, the son of Zeruja, succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him: Then David’s men sware unto him, [i.e. David’s Officers and souldiers sware unto David] saying; Thou shalt no more march forth with us to battle, lest thou quench the Lamp of Israel. [or, candle, light, lanthorn of Israel; i.e. lest thou, who bearest the light before Israel, perish. See more of this excellent comparison, 1 King.11.on v.36.]

18. And it came to pass after that, that there was again a war at Gob, [Lying by Gezer, where this happened, 1 Chron 20 1. in Ephraim, by the borders of Benjamin, toward the Philistines Land] against the Philistines: Then Sibbechai, the Husathite, [Heb. the Cuschatite] smote Saph, [called also Sippai, 1 Chron.20.4.] who was of the children of Rapha.

19. Moreover, there was yet a war at Gob, against the Philistines; and Elhanan [Heb. Elchanan] the son of Jaare Oregim, [called Jair, 1 Chron.20.5.] smote Beth-Halachmi, (who was) with Goliath [whom David slew, 1 Sam.17. Oth. (brother) of Goliath: which some insert here out of Chron.20.5. where he is called Lachmi: which place the Reader may compare with this] the Gethite, the wood of whose spear was, as a Weavers beam.

20. There was also yet a war at Gath: [A known city of the Philistines, lying neer the mid-land sea] and there was a very tall man [Heb. a man of measure; i.e. great above, or, beyond measure. Compare Numb.13.33.] that had six fingers on his hands, and six toes on hia feet, four and twenty in number, [Heb. the fingers of his hands, and the fingers of his feet (were) six and six, four and twenty (in) number] and this (man) was also born to Rapha.

21. And he defied Israel, [Compare 1 Sam.17.10.] but Jonathan, the son of Simea, [Heb. Schima, called also Schamma, 1 Sam.16.9.] David’s brothers, smote him.

22. These four were born to Rapha at Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, [As Goliath also was formerly slain by David, 1 Sam.17. who was also here their Head and Leader; wherefore that is likewise ascribed to him, which his servants did. Otherwise, and; i.e. to wit] and by the hand of his servants; [i.e. his Officers and Champions.]