2 Samuel 21:7

Friendship Covenant and promises Faithfulness and loyalty

⁵ And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel,

⁶ let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.” “I will give them to you,” said the king.

Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.

⁸ But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.

⁹ And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

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: Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
KJV: But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
WEB: But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
ASV: But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah`s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
DARBY: But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
BLB: And the king had pity on Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul, because of the oath of YHWH that [was] between them, between David and between Jonathan son of Saul.

ÅB: Kongen sparte Mefiboset, sønn av Jonatan, Sauls sønn, for den eds skyld som de - David og Jonatan, Sauls sønn - hadde svoret hverandre ved Herren.
OTB: Men kongen sparte Mefibosjet, sønn av Jonatan, Sauls sønn, på grunn av Herrens ed som var mellom dem, mellom David og Jonatan, Sauls sønn.
B1930: Kongen sparte Mefiboset, sønn av Jonatan, Sauls sønn, for den eds skyld som de - David og Jonatan, Sauls sønn - hadde svoret hverandre ved Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 23:18
So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
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1 Samuel 18:3
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Read in context
2 Samuel 4:4
And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
Read in context
1 Samuel 20:15
and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
Read in context
1 Samuel 20:8
Therefore deal faithfully with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”
Read in context
2 Samuel 9:10
You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Read in context
1 Samuel 20:17
And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
Read in context
1 Samuel 20:42
And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.
Read in context