2 Samuel 21

21:1–24:25 The final chapters of 2 Samuel are a coda, a concluding section that summarizes the important themes from the preceding material. These chapters are thematic, not chronological, and not all the events described here happened at the end of David’s reign (e.g., 22:1). The materials are arranged according to a common Hebrew literary device, a chiasm (mirror-image): A: Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites and its collective punishment (21:1-14); B: David’s heroes and their exploits (21:15-22); C: David’s Psalm (22:1-51); C′: David’s Psalm (23:1-7); B′: David’s heroes and their exploits (23:8-39); A′: David’s sin against the census taboo and its collective punishment (24:1-25). A chiasm highlights the central section—here David’s hymns, which focus not on David but on David’s God.21:1 asked the Lord: The Hebrew verb is the same as that used when David “begged” for the life of Bathsheba’s child (12:16). On these two occasions, “seeking” was in the desperation of a moment of crisis. However, most often in the Old Testament, “seeking God” refers not to a specific prayer of petition but to the dynamics of daily devotion and obedience to God (e.g., Pss 40:16; 105:4; Prov 28:5). • Saul and his family are guilty: The famine resulted from violating an oath taken before the Lord (Josh 9:19-20). • murdering the Gibeonites: This incident is not elsewhere recorded. Illicit bloodshed had polluted the land, making it sterile and unfruitful (cp. Gen 4:10-12; Num 35:30-34).

21:2 Though the Amorites were a specific people group (Gen 10:16), here it is a general term for the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan. • When properly directed, zeal is commendable (e.g., Num 25:11; 1 Kgs 19:10). Saul’s misdirected zeal, however, involved blatant disregard for Israel’s covenant with the Gibeonites.

21:3 Saul’s actions had caused the Gibeonites to curse Israel (cp. Rom 2:24); once David had made amends, the Gibeonites would bless the Lord’s people again.

21:6 seven of Saul’s sons: Although the law codes of other ancient Near Eastern nations sometimes permitted members of a family to be punished for crimes a guilty individual had committed, Deut 24:16 prohibited such punishment among the Israelites. This penalty was God’s prerogative alone (Deut 5:9). The few instances in the Bible when offspring were punished were not regular criminal cases. Rather, they involved offenses against God, such as violation of the kherem (the taboo on goods in wars of total destruction ordered by God; Josh 7:24-25) or of national oaths (as here). • at Gibeon, on the mountain of the Lord: This probably refers to the high place at Gibeon that Solomon later visited (1 Kgs 3:3-4; 2 Chr 1:3). If the Hebrew reading is correct (see NLT note), the Gibeonites were sarcastically referring to Saul as “the chosen of the Lord.”

21:7 the oath: See 1 Sam 20:14-15. In contrast to Saul, David was honoring his oath while dealing with the deadly fallout of Saul’s violation of an oath.

21:8 Armoni and Mephibosheth were Saul’s only two remaining sons. • Saul’s daughter Merab: See NLT note; the NLT follows the Greek here because Michal remained childless (6:22-23). Also, Merab was married to Adriel (1 Sam 18:19), whereas Michal’s other husband was Palti (2 Sam 3:15). • Barzillai from Meholah (cp. 1 Sam 18:19) should not be confused with Barzillai of Gilead (2 Sam 19:31).

21:9 The beginning of the barley harvest was in April. • Before the Lord means “before the Lord’s altar” (see study note on 21:6).

21:10 Because the Gibeonites were not Israelites (21:2), they had no law such as the Israelite one in Deut 21:22-23 requiring the quick and proper burial of a criminal. Rizpah was intent that her sons not be further shamed after their death.

21:11-13 Rizpah’s action shamed David into likewise honoring the dead of Saul’s family.

21:14 The precise location of Zela is unknown. • the famine: See 21:1-2.

21:15-22 The extended account of battles with the Philistines highlights some notable accomplishments of David’s mighty warriors (see also 23:8-39).21:15 The description of David as weak and exhausted helps shift the focus from his ability and accomplishments to God as the source of his success (ch 22).

21:16 a descendant of the giants: Cp. Gen 14:5; Deut 2:10-11, 20-21; 3:11.

21:17 Abishai was an accomplished warrior and fiercely loyal to David, whom he heroically rescued (see “Abishai” Profile). • the light of Israel? Cp. 18:3. Both passages reflect the glowing adoration that David’s men had for him.

21:18 The location of Gob is uncertain.

21:19 Some traditions identify Elhanan as David, principally because Elhanan was also from Bethlehem and because David killed Goliath (1 Sam 17:48-51). But it is more likely that the words brother of were omitted from the Masoretic Text by scribal error.