2 Samuel 21
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Samuel 21
NJB (MT versing) Gibeonite Revenge David Avenges the Gibeonites The Famine and the Execution of the Descendants of Saul Saul's Descendants Are Put to Death The Great Famine and Execution of Saul's Descendants 21:1-6 21:1-6 21:1-6 21:1-3 21:1-9 21:4 21:5-6 21:7-9 21:7-9 21:7-9 21:7-9 21:10-14 21:10-14 21:10-14 21:10 21:10-11 21:11-14 21:12-14 Philistine Giants Destroyed Exploits in the War Against the Philistines Battles Against Philistine Giants Various Exploits Against the Philistines 21:15-17 21:15-17 21:15-17 21:15-17 21:15-17 21:18-22 21:18-22 21:18-22 21:18 21:18 21:19 21:19 21:20-21 21:20-21 21:22 21:22 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS The last four chapters are historically and chronologically unrelated to what goes before. They form an appendix. These four chapters all relate to the reign of David. Much of this material is presented in previous chapters. There seem to be six literary units. 2 Sam. 21:1-14 ‒ the God-sent famine 2 Sam. 21:15-22 ‒ the descendants of the Raphaim killed 2 Sam. 22:1-51 ‒ David's hymn of praise for YHWH delivered 2 Sam. 23:1-7 ‒ David's last hymn 2 Sam. 23:8-39 ‒ David's mighty men
2 Samuel 21:1-6
21:1 This whole account has some troubling questions. Are all weather events from YHWH? 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 The NT has fulfilled and superceded the OT (cf.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). 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 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. consumed us ‒ BDB 477, KB 476, Piel PERFECT planned to exterminate us ‒ BDB 1029, KB 1552, Niphal PERFECT 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 ▣ NASB, NKJV, TEV, LXX "hang" NRSV, JPSOA "impale" "dismember" "hurl them down" "sacrifice" 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.
2 Samuel 21:7-9
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). ▣ NASB, NKJV, LXX, Peshitta "fell" NRSV, NJB, JPSOA "perished" "flung them down" 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).
2 Samuel 21:10-14
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, David's prayer, v. 1 justice involving Saul's descendants, vv. 2-9 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). ▣ NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB "in Zela" "in Zelah" "in the side" "in Zelzah" The MT has the place name (BDB 854) "Zela" (cf. Josh 18:28). The LXX assumes a slightly different root. in Zela ‒ בצלע ‒ BDB 854 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)
2 Samuel 21:15-17
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. ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB, REB, JPSOA, LXX "spear" "breastplate" some commentators "helmet" The MT has the NOUN (BDB 883, KB 1097) which occurs only here in the OT. the Arabic root I, means "spear," "lance" the Aramaic root II, denotes a worker in metal ‒ smith root III ‒ the name of a tribe ‒ Kain 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. ▣ NASB, NKJV, TEV, NJB, Peshitta "a new sword" "new weapons" "a belt of honor" "new armor" "a mace" 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).
2 Samuel 21:18-22
21:18-19 This is another account of the death of two more Philistine giants. Saph by Sibbecai 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.