2 Samuel 21 1

2 Samuel 21:1 kjv

Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

2 Samuel 21:1 nkjv

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, "It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites."

2 Samuel 21:1 niv

During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, "It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death."

2 Samuel 21:1 esv

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, "There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death."

2 Samuel 21:1 nlt

There was a famine during David's reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the LORD about it. And the LORD said, "The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites."

2 Samuel 21 verses

2 Samuel 21 1 Meaning

The passage describes a severe, prolonged famine lasting three years during King David's reign, prompting him to seek God's counsel for its cause. The Lord reveals that the famine is a direct consequence of King Saul's unprovoked killing of the Gibeonites, violating an ancient sacred covenant made by Israel. This act brought corporate bloodguilt upon Saul's household and, by extension, the entire nation.

2 Samuel 21 1 Context

2 Samuel 21:1 opens an appendix (chapters 21-24) to the primary narrative of David's reign. These chapters are generally considered to be thematically, rather than strictly chronologically, arranged, focusing on significant events that highlight God's justice and David's faithfulness. This particular verse addresses a deep-seated spiritual and historical issue that occurred decades before, showing that God remembers and demands rectification for covenant violations and innocent bloodshed, even if committed by previous generations or rulers. It underscores David's leadership in addressing national sin and contrasts it with the reckless actions of the former king, Saul. The event takes place after the main sequence of David's troubles within his house, pointing towards God's broader restoration of the kingdom.

2 Samuel 21 1 Word analysis

• "Now there was a famine":
  • Hebrew: רָעָב (ra'av), signifying a severe scarcity of food.
  • Significance: In biblical contexts, famines are frequently portents or direct manifestations of divine judgment against a nation's sin or covenant breaking, not merely natural occurrences (Lev 26:19-20; Deut 28:23-24). Its presence here signals an underlying spiritual problem.
• "in the days of David":
  • Significance: This situates the event within David's reign, placing responsibility on him to seek its cause and resolve it, thereby exercising righteous governance in the kingdom.
• "three years, year after year":
  • Significance: The prolonged duration and consistent severity emphasize that this was no ordinary seasonal hardship but a definite, persistent divine intervention. The specificity removes ambiguity regarding its supernatural origin and the urgent need for divine inquiry.
• "and David inquired of the LORD":
  • Hebrew: וַיְבַקֵּשׁ דָּוִד אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה (vay’vaqqesh Dawid et-pene Yahweh), literally "David sought the face of the LORD."
  • Significance: This action exemplifies David's character as a king who consistently sought God's guidance and understanding during national crises. Unlike Saul (1 Sam 28:6), David’s inquiry signifies his dependence on divine revelation for leadership, likely through prophetic or priestly means.
• "And the LORD answered":
  • Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה (vayyomer Yahweh), "And Yahweh said."
  • Significance: Indicates a clear, direct divine communication, affirming God’s engagement with His people and His willingness to reveal the root cause of their affliction when genuinely sought. This immediate response validates David's spiritual leadership.
• "It is for Saul and for his bloody house":
  • Hebrew: אֶל־שָׁאוּל וְאֶל־בֵּית הַדָּמִים (el Sha'ul ve'el beit ha'damim), literally "concerning Saul and concerning the house of bloodshed."
  • "Saul and his bloody house": This highlights corporate responsibility; the consequences of sin extend beyond the individual perpetrator to their lineage or the community they represent. "His house" includes his descendants and immediate family, reflecting a lingering guilt that affected the land and its people. This does not imply inherited individual culpability, but rather communal consequences needing atonement.
  • "bloody house": This vivid phrase denotes a house characterized by bloodshed, particularly innocent blood. It points to profound defilement and moral guilt stemming from Saul’s violent actions.
• "because he slew the Gibeonites":
  • Hebrew: עַל אֲשֶׁר הֵמִית אֶת־הַגִּבְעוֹנִים (al asher hemit et-haGiv'onim), "because he put to death the Gibeonites."
  • Significance: Identifies the specific, underlying cause of the famine: an unrecorded act of violence against a specific people. This act violated the sacred oath Israel had made with the Gibeonites (Josh 9:15-20), an oath sworn by God’s name. God’s commitment to justice for the wronged and the sanctity of oaths, even centuries later, is profoundly underscored. Saul's action likely stemmed from misguided nationalistic zeal that trampled over divine covenant obligations, illustrating his consistent disregard for God's directives. The incident proves that God does not overlook sin, especially those involving the breaking of divine covenants and the shedding of innocent blood.

2 Samuel 21 1 Bonus section

The placement of this account in 2 Samuel's appendix (chapters 21-24) suggests a thematic rather than chronological arrangement, emphasizing God's enduring justice and covenant fidelity in framing David's kingship. This famine, occurring during a period expected to be blessed, draws a stark contrast with the consequences of Saul's reign, reinforcing David as the king who ultimately sought to align the nation with God’s will. The principle of corporate consequences, where a past leader's unaddressed sin can affect subsequent generations (Ex 20:5, Num 14:18), is evident here; the entire nation suffers for the "bloody house" until expiation is made. The meticulous nature of God’s justice, not overlooking sins even across generations, underpins this narrative. This passage reveals that covenant infractions, especially involving innocent blood (Num 35:33-34), create a spiritual defilement that hinders divine blessing until it is cleansed.

2 Samuel 21 1 Commentary

2 Samuel 21:1 sets the stage for God's enduring justice and the necessity of covenant fidelity in Israel's history. When a devastating three-year famine strikes, David, acting as a righteous king, wisely consults the Lord for its origin. The divine answer points directly to Saul’s past transgression: the slaughter of the Gibeonites. This action, though seemingly forgotten, constituted a severe breach of a centuries-old sacred oath and incurred profound bloodguilt. God's response to the famine highlights that such sins defile the land and prevent divine blessing until addressed. The phrase "bloody house" emphasizes the inherited weight of Saul’s violent and unatoned act. The entire episode demonstrates that God upholds the sanctity of vows and demands justice for the wronged, illustrating how communal well-being is intrinsically linked to collective righteousness and expiation for past sins.