2 Samuel 21:1

During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

2 At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)

3 So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
KJV
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
WEB
There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
ASV
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.
DARBY
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for [his] house of blood, because he slew the Gibeonites.
BLB
And there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David inquired of YHWH. And YHWH answered, “Because of Saul and [his] house [is] the blood, on account that he killed the Gibeonites.”
ÅB
I Davids tid var det engang en hungersnød som varte i tre år etter hverandre. Da søkte David Herrens åsyn, og Herren svarte: Det er fordi det hviler blodskyld på Saul og hans hus, siden han drepte gibeonittene.
OTB
Nå var det hungersnød i Davids dager i tre år, år etter år; og David spurte Herren. Herren sa, "Det er på grunn av Saul og hans blodige hus, fordi han drepte gibeonittene."
B1930
I Davids tid var det engang en hungersnød som varte i tre år efter hverandre. Da søkte David Herrens åsyn, og Herren svarte: Det er fordi det hviler blodskyld på Saul og hans hus, siden han drepte gibeonittene.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Joshua 7:11–12

    Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 26:1

    Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 12:10

    Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 23:4

    Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 18:2

    So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria,

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 17:1

    Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 5:19

    So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 91:15

    When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.

    Read in context