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2 SAMUEL 21

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

1. The last four chapters are historically and chronologically unrelated to what goes before. They form an appendix.
   
   
2. These four chapters all relate to the reign of David. Much of this material is presented in previous chapters.
   
   
3. There seem to be six literary units.
   1. 2 Sam. 21:1-14 ‒ the God-sent famine
   2. 2 Sam. 21:15-22 ‒ the descendants of the Raphaim killed
   3. 2 Sam. 22:1-51 ‒ David's hymn of praise for YHWH delivered
   4. 2 Sam. 23:1-7 ‒ David's last hymn
   5. 2 Sam. 23:8-39 ‒ David's mighty men
   6. 2 Sam. 24:1-15 ‒ David's sin in numbering the people
      See the captions on the Paragraph Divisions of Modern Translations section at each chapter.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 21:1-6
  ¹Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the Lord. And the Lord said, "It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death." ²So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the sons of Israel made a covenant with them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah). ³Thus David said to the Gibeonites, "What should I do for you? And how can I make atonement that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?" ⁴Then the Gibeonites said to him, "We have no concern of silver or gold with Saul or his house, nor is it for us to put any man to death in Israel." And he said, "I will do for you whatever you say." ⁵So they said to the king, "The man who consumed us and who planned to exterminate us from remaining within any border of Israel, ⁶let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will hang them before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the Lord." And the king said, "I will give them."

21:1 This whole account has some troubling questions.

1. Are all weather events from YHWH?
2. Can human sacrifice (i.e., exposure) of the children of the ones who committed the crime placate (i.e., "make atonement") YHWH?

As far as #1 is concerned, I do believe YHWH can use weather to judge His people and encourage them to obey Him (i.e., Deut. 11:13-17). But that does not mean "all" weather or nature events are directly caused/sent by God. We live in a wonderful but fallen world. Also YHWH's use of weather was directly related to His covenant people. The NT has fulfilled and superceded the OT (cf. Mark 7; Acts 15; Galatians 3; Hebrews).

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHY DO OT COVENANT PROMISES SEEM SO DIFFERENT FROM NT COVENANT PROMISES?

As far as #2 is concerned, this must be seen as an act of eye-for-eye justice and not human sacrifice (see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 125-127). There are too many prophetic texts against human sacrifice to allow this small literary unit to establish a general doctrine.

There is mystery in the ways of God dealing with fallen mankind. We must let all Scripture speak and not proof-text isolated passages!

See "Bible Interpretation Seminar"

▣ "famine" This was common in Canaan (cf. Gen. 12:10; 26:1; 42:5).

▣ "days" See SPECIAL TOPIC: DAY (yom).

▣ "David sought the presence of the Lord" Literally this is "David sought the face of YHWH. This is different from similar terminology in Samuel. These appendices were from a different source. This was a characteristic of David's life. He wanted to know YHWH's will and follow it.

YHWH answers very specifically this prayer of David. Josephus, Antiq. 7.12.1, says through the prophets.

▣ "because he put the Gibeonites to death" YHWH took notice of the deaths of the remnant of the Amorites (v. 2; see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 225-226; see SPECIAL TOPIC: AMORITE) who were not of His covenant people. This event is not recorded in Scripture but Joshua's promise to them is. This surely says something of God's character.

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT)

21:2 Saul rationalized the ethnic cleansing of the Amorites by his zeal for Israel and Judah! We must be reminded that all humans are made in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) and that He desires all to be redeemed (i.e., Gen. 12:3; Exod. 19:5).

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣ "Gibeonites" There have been two theories about this city (cf. v. 6).

1. Gibeah ‒ גבעח (MT BDB 149, which means "hill") Saul's hometown in Benjamin's territory ‒ 1 Sam. 15:34; see NKJV, TEV, JPSOA, REB, Peshitta
2. Gibeon ‒ גבעון (BDB 149, NRSV) also a city in Benjamin (cf. 2 Sam. 2:24), where a great high place was located (cf. 1 Kgs. 3:4-5; 9:2; see NRSV, NJB, LXX)

The UBS Text Project, p. 260, in v. 6 gives the MT ("in Gibeah of Saul") a "B" rating (some doubt).

▣ "Amorites" Joshua 9:7; 11:19 say that the Gibeonites were Hivites. The term "Amorites" (BDB 57) became a collective term for all the tribes of Canaan (i.e., Gen. 15:16; Deut. 1:27; Josh. 24:15; Jdgs. 6:10), as did the term "Canaanites." However, sometimes Amorite refers to those tribes living in the hill country, while Canaanite refers to those living on the coastal plain (cf. Num. 13:29; Deut. 1:7).

21:3 "how can I make atonement" Atonement (BDB 497, KB, 493, Piel IMPERFECT) is a powerful sacrificial term. David sensed the need for an act of eye-for-eye justice.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ATONEMENT

21:4 "nor is it for us" The MT has "to me," but the Masoretic scholars suggested "to us" (Qere). The UBS Text Project, p. 260, gives the MT an "A" rating, which would make the SINGULAR a COLLECTIVE PREPOSITION.

The Gibeonites do not want a money compensation to cover Saul's genocide (cf Num. 35:31-32; see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 170-171). They want a blood atonement (i.e., eye-for-eye justice).

21:5 Notice three things Saul wanted to do to the Gibeonties.

1. consumed us ‒ BDB 477, KB 476, Piel PERFECT
2. planned to exterminate us ‒ BDB 1029, KB 1552, Niphal PERFECT
3. that we should have no place in Israel ‒ BDB 426, KB 427, Hithpael INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT

21:6 "seven men from his sons" This is a good example of Exod. 20:5 (but not Exod. 20:6; see Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 152-153; and Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 177-179). The number seven was a symbolic number.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE

The MT has a VERB (BDB 429, KB 431, Hiphil PERFECT with waw) which basically means "be dislocated" or "alienated," but the Arabic root means "to fall" (REB). KB suggests the Akkadian root "to impale on a stake" (JPSOA, NRSV). BDB says "some solemn form of execution" (NJB, Peshitta).

There is no example of hanging (i.e., rope around the neck) in the ANE. Often once someone was executed for a crime, their body was publically exposed on a stake.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEATH PENALTY IN ISRAEL

▣ "Saul, the chosen of the Lord" This was an idiom denoting YHWH's anointing of Saul as the first king of the United Monarchy (cf. 1 Sam. 10:24).

The NRSV slightly changes the Hebrew to "on the mountain of the Lord " relating to v. 9. However, the UBS Text Project, p. 260, gives the MT an "A" rating.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 21:7-9
  ⁷But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the oath of the Lord which was between them, between David and Saul's son Jonathan. ⁸So the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Armoni and Mephibosheth whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. ⁹Then he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before the Lord, so that the seven of them fell together; and they were put to death in the first days of harvest at the beginning of barley harvest.

21:7-8 The named descendants of Saul were two sons and five grandsons.

21:7 "the oath" This refers to David and Jonathan's oath found in 1 Sam. 18:3; 20:12-17; 23:18.

21:8 "Mephibosheth" This is not Jonathan's son mentioned in 2 Sam. 21:7, but another son of Saul.

21:9 This verse seems to confirm the sacrificial nature of this event.

The "in the mountain before the Lord" probably refers to the high place at Gibeon (i.e., 1 Kgs. 3:4).

The MT has the VERB (BDB 656, KB 709, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) which means "fall" or "lie." It is possible this relates to 2 Sam. 21:6, where REB has "hurl them down," meaning those seven descendants of Saul were thrown down from the mountain.

▣ "in the first days of harvest" Remember, this whole literary unit is related to a famine. The death of these seven from Saul's family occurred at a harvest time. This may be more than just a time marker. Usually no rain fell for several months. This lady kept her mourning vigil for several months (possibly April through September/October). Apparently it moved David's heart (v. 11).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 21:10-14
  ¹⁰And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until it rained on them from the sky; and she allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night. ¹¹When it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done, ¹²then David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the open square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them on the day the Philistines struck down Saul in Gilboa. ¹³He brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there, and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. ¹⁴They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the grave of Kish his father; thus they did all that the king commanded, and after that God was moved by prayer for the land.

21:10 "sackcloth" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES.

▣ "on the rock" This may refer to "the large stone which is in Gibeon" (2 Sam. 20:5). This rock/stone (with the DEFINITE ARTICLE) must have been a sacred site, a site for sacrifice.

"Them" must refer to the seven sons of Saul killed in v. 9. Therefore, David will plan for a family burial.

21:12-14 Even though David was an active partner in the death of these seven children of Saul, he honors them and Saul by a special burial of all the family in the land of Benjamin (i.e., the family tomb of Kish).

21:12 "the bones of Saul and Jonathan" Remember, the men of Jabesh-gilead buried their bodies (cf. 1 Sam. 31:12-13).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CREMATION

21:14 "God was moved by prayer for the land" David's actions,

1. David's prayer, v. 1
2. justice involving Saul's descendants, vv. 2-9
3. the proper burial of Saul and his sons and grandsons, vv. 10-14

caused God to remove the curse (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28) of the famine (cf. 2 Sam. 24:25).

The MT has the place name (BDB 854) "Zela" (cf. Josh 18:28). The LXX assumes a slightly different root.

1. in Zela ‒ בצלע ‒ BDB 854
2. in the side ‒ צלע ‒ BDB 854 (i.e., side-chamber, cf. 1 Kgs. 6:5-6, of the temple, here of Kish's family tomb, AB, CEV)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 21:15-17
  ¹⁵Now when the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary. ¹⁶Then Ishbi-benob, who was among the descendants of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of bronze in weight, was girded with a new sword, and he intended to kill David. ¹⁷But Abishai the son of Zeruiah helped him, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You shall not go out again with us to battle, so that you do not extinguish the lamp of Israel."

21:15-22 This is another literary unit. There are several actions/hymns of David that are put out of chronological order in chapters 21-24. They were possibly oral traditions which were included for a clearer picture of David's life and reign. See John Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture.

Notice the four times of the phrase "there was war" (or similar phrases), which introduces the killing of another giant (vv. 15,18,19,20).

21:15 "David became weary" This is the key phrase. David allowed others to kill the remnant of the Philistine giants (Raphah, BDB 952 II). Josephus, Antiq. 7.12.2, says David was tired from pursuing his enemies. The Bible does not clarify what the VERB (BDB 746, KB 820, Qal IMPERFECT with waw, see NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 390), usually translated "be faint," means. The ADJECTIVE can mean "be weary."

SPECIAL TOPIC: GIANTS

21:16 "Then Ishbi-benob" Literally this is "man of Nob." The UBS Handbook, p. 1101, says the traditional Hebrew text at this point reads "they remained at Nob." But there is a marginal note in the Hebrew text indicating that it should be read, "And Ishiberob." This proper name (BDB 444) occurs only here in the OT.

The UBS Text Project does not mention the above marginal note.

The Peshitta is very different, "But David, Joab, and Abishai were afraid of a giant. . ."

Josephus, Antiq. 7.12.1, calls him "Achmon, the son of Araph." It is unknown from where Josephus' Jewish tradition of the first century a.d. came.

The MT has the NOUN (BDB 883, KB 1097) which occurs only here in the OT.

1. the Arabic root I, means "spear," "lance"
2. the Aramaic root II, denotes a worker in metal ‒ smith
3. root III ‒ the name of a tribe ‒ Kain
4. root IV ‒ a place name in Judah, Josh. 15:57

As you can see, most translations, ancient and modern, assume "spear," "lance," "javelin."

▣ "shekels" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES.

The MT has "with a new____." It does not specify what. Most translations assume a "sword." The point being this very large man had the best equipment for battle (which the Israelites at this period did not) and he wanted to specifically kill David.

21:17 Since David was weary (v. 15), Abishai, Joab's younger brother, "helped him." This is at variance with the image of David given in 1 Samuel.

▣ "You shall not go out again with us to battle" David's men saw his weakness and did not want him to fight anymore lest "the lamp of Israel" (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:36; 15:4; 2 Kgs. 8:19; Ps. 132:7) be extinguished. David was the friend of YHWH and hope for Israel (cf. 2 Sam. 18:3). He was the fulfillment of Gen. 49:10 (i.e., Ps. 60:7; 108:8; even possibly Num. 24:17).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 21:18-22
  ¹⁸Now it came about after this that there was war again with the Philistines at Gob; then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Saph, who was among the descendants of the giant. ¹⁹There was war with the Philistines again at Gob, and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. ²⁰There was war at Gath again, where there was a man of great stature who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; and he also had been born to the giant. ²¹When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David's brother, struck him down. ²²These four were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

21:18-19 This is another account of the death of two more Philistine giants.

1. Saph by Sibbecai
2. Goliath by Elhanan

This seems to contradict David's killing of Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 (see Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 179-180; and Hard Sayings of the Bible, p. 212). However, the parallel account in 1 Chr. 20:5 has "Lahmi, the brother of Goliath." See full note there.

The famous Rabbi Rashi thought that Elhanan and David were the same person (see Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, p. 82; NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 442, #2).

21:19 "the son of Jaare-oregim" The UBS Text Project supports "the son of Jari" with a "C" rating (considerable doubt). The parallel in 1 Chr. 20:5 has "the son of Jair" (REB).

The Peshitta has "the son of Malap a weaver." The word "weaver" (oregim) occurs at the end of the verse, which may have caused scribes confusion.

21:20 This is the fourth giant (v. 22) from Gath that will be killed by Jonathan, son of Shimei, David's brother (cf. 1 Chr. 20:6-7).

▣ "who had six fingers" This is an eyewitness detail. This occurrence is rare and unusual but not unheard of.

21:21 This verse sounds like what Goliath had done in 1 Samuel 17 (i.e., "defy," BDB 357, KB 355, Piel IMPERFECT with waw, cf. 1 Sam. 17:10,25,36,45; 1 Chr. 20:7).

▣ "Shimei, David's brother" The first list of Jesse's sons is in 1 Sam. 16:9; 17:3, where this one is called "Shammah," but in 1 Chr. 2:13, he is called "Shimea." Names are often confused in the historical books.

21:22 "four" 1 Chronicles 20 lists only three giants.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. When did this chapter occur historically in the life of David? Why is it recorded here in the appendix to Samuel?
2. Are all weather phenomena controlled by YHWH?
3. Does YHWH want human sacrifice?
4. How were these seven descendants of Saul killed?
5. Did David or Elhanan kill Goliath?
6. Who were the giants?

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