1 Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
2 And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)
3 Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?
4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.
5 And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,
6 Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
9 And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
13 And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.
14 And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.
15 Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
16 And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.
17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.
19 And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.
20 And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
21 And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.
The 21st chapter of 2 Samuel in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible, also known as the Second Book of Samuel, is a continuation of the story of King David and his reign over Israel. This chapter is divided into two main parts, with the first part focusing on a famine that struck the land and its resolution, and the second part narrating David's battles against the Philistines. The main themes of this chapter revolve around the consequences of sin and the importance of seeking forgiveness and making amends. It also highlights the true nature of God's justice and mercy. This essay will provide a detailed summary of the events in this chapter and explore the deeper meaning and lessons that can be drawn from them.
The chapter begins with the words, "Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year" (2 Samuel 21:1a). This famine was a result of the previous king, Saul, who had broken a promise made by Israel to the Gibeonites. According to the book of Joshua, the Israelites had made a covenant with the Gibeonites, a Canaanite tribe, not to harm them (Joshua 9). However, during Saul's reign, he had slaughtered many Gibeonites in an attempt to eradicate the remaining Canaanites in the land (2 Samuel 21:2).
The Gibeonites sought justice from David for the wrongs done to them by Saul's actions. David, as the king of Israel, was responsible for the actions of his predecessor and thus had to address the issue. The Gibeonites demanded that seven of Saul's sons be handed over to them to be put to death as compensation for their loss (2 Samuel 21:5-6). David, in his desire to do what is right, handed over the two sons of Rizpah, one of Saul's concubines, and five sons of Merab, Saul's daughter. These seven sons were then executed by the Gibeonites in a public display of justice (2 Samuel 21:9).
The death of these seven sons was a significant event in the history of Israel. It symbolized the consequences of sin and the importance of seeking forgiveness and making amends. Saul's actions had brought a curse upon the land, and only by fulfilling the demands of the Gibeonites could the curse be lifted. This event also reflects the biblical principle of "an eye for an eye" (Exodus 21:24), where justice is served by paying back for the wrongs done. However, it also highlights the importance of seeking forgiveness and making amends for one's sins. David's actions in handing over Saul's sons to the Gibeonites demonstrate his understanding of this principle and his desire to do what is right in the eyes of God.
The second part of this chapter focuses on David's battles against the Philistines. These battles were not new to David as he had faced the Philistines several times before in his reign. However, what sets these battles apart is the presence of a giant named Ishbi-benob, who was a descendant of the giant Goliath (2 Samuel 21:16). This encounter with Ishbi-benob was a reminder of David's victory over Goliath, which had propelled him to fame and eventually led to his anointing as king of Israel (1 Samuel 17).
In this battle, Ishbi-benob challenged David, and his men to fight him, and David's nephew, Abishai, accepted the challenge and killed him (2 Samuel 21:17). This victory further solidified David's reputation as a mighty warrior and leader in Israel. However, the Philistines were not deterred and continued to wage war against Israel. In the following battle, another giant named Saph, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, challenged David and his men (2 Samuel 21:20). Again, Abishai rose to the challenge and killed Saph, and the Philistines were defeated (2 Samuel 21:21).
The final battle mentioned in this chapter was against a giant named Goliath, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's beam (2 Samuel 21:19). This giant was not the same Goliath that David had defeated in his youth, but it was another Philistine who shared the same name. This battle was a test of David's faith and trust in God. Despite Goliath's intimidating appearance and his impressive weapon, David remained steadfast in his faith and killed him (2 Samuel 21:22).
These battles against the Philistines serve as a reminder of the ongoing spiritual warfare that the people of God face. The Philistines, who were the enemies of Israel, can be seen as a representation of the evil forces that seek to destroy God's people. The victory of David and his men over the Philistines symbolizes the power of faith and trust in God to overcome the enemies of God's people. It also serves as a reminder that even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, God is always with His people and will give them the strength to overcome.
The 21st chapter of 2 Samuel is a significant chapter in the story of King David and his reign over Israel. It highlights the consequences of sin and the importance of seeking forgiveness and making amends. It also emphasizes the true nature of God's justice and mercy. The famine that struck the land was a result of Saul's disobedience to God's command to spare the Gibeonites, and it was only by fulfilling the demands of the Gibeonites that the curse was lifted. This event serves as a reminder that our actions have consequences, and it is essential to seek forgiveness and make amends for our wrongdoings.
The battles against the Philistines also hold great significance in this chapter. The presence of the giant Ishbi-benob was a reminder of David's victory over Goliath, which had propelled him to fame and eventually led to his anointing as king. These battles were a test of David's faith and trust in God, and his victory over the Philistines symbolizes the power of faith to overcome the enemies of God's people. It also serves as a reminder that God is always with His people, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
Furthermore, the death of Saul's sons and the defeat of the Philistines in these battles also point to the ultimate victory of God's people over their enemies. The death of the seven sons of Saul symbolizes the ultimate defeat of sin and death through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The victory of David and his men over the Philistines foreshadows the ultimate victory of God's people over the forces of evil, which will be achieved through the power of Christ.
In conclusion, chapter 21 of 2 Samuel in the KJV Holy Bible is a powerful and significant chapter that highlights the consequences of sin, the importance of seeking forgiveness and making amends, and the true nature of God's justice and mercy. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing spiritual warfare that the people of God face and the power of faith to overcome the enemies of God's people. This chapter provides valuable lessons and insights into the nature of God and His relationship with His people, and it continues to hold relevance and relevance in the lives of believers today.
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