2 Samuel 21:2
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.”
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?”
4 The Gibeonites said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel for us.” “Whatever you ask, I will do for you,” he replied.
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
- 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.)
- KJV
- 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.)
- WEB
- The king called the Gibeonites and said to 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 to them; and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);
- ASV
- 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 for the children of Israel and Judah);
- DARBY
- And the king called the Gibeonites, and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remainder of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them; and Saul sought to smite them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.)
- BLB
- And the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (And the Gibeonites, they [were] not of the sons of Israel, for [they were] only of the remnant of the Amorite. And the sons of Israel had sworn protection to them, and Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah.)
- ÅB
- Kongen lot da gibeonittene kalle og talte med dem. Gibeonittene hørte ikke til Israels barn, men var av de amoritter som var blitt tilbake i landet, og Israels barn hadde svoret dem en ed, men Saul søkte å slå dem ihjel i sin nidkjærhet for Israels og Judas barn.
- OTB
- Så kongen kalte gibeonittene og talte til dem. (Nå var gibeonittene ikke av Israels barn, men av restene av amorittene, og Israels barn hadde sverget til dem; men Saul hadde søkt å slå dem ned i sin iver for Israels barn og Juda.)
- B1930
- Kongen lot da gibeonittene kalle og talte med dem. Gibeonittene hørte ikke til Israels barn, men var av de amoritter som var blitt tilbake i landet, og Israels barn hadde svoret dem en ed, men Saul søkte å slå dem ihjel i sin nidkjærhet for Israels og Judas barn.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Joshua 9:3–21
But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
Read in context2 Kings 10:31
Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.
Read in context1 Samuel 15:8–9
He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but devoted all the others to destruction with the sword.
Read in contextRomans 10:2
For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
Read in context2 Kings 10:16
saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!” So he had him ride in his chariot.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 7:16
You must destroy all the peoples the LORD your God will deliver to you. Do not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.
Read in contextLuke 9:54–55
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”
Read in contextGenesis 15:16
In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
Read in context