2 Samuel 21 10

2 Samuel 21:10 kjv

And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

2 Samuel 21:10 nkjv

Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.

2 Samuel 21:10 niv

Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.

2 Samuel 21:10 esv

Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell upon them from the heavens. And she did not allow the birds of the air to come upon them by day, or the beasts of the field by night.

2 Samuel 21:10 nlt

Then Rizpah daughter of Aiah, the mother of two of the men, spread burlap on a rock and stayed there the entire harvest season. She prevented the scavenger birds from tearing at their bodies during the day and stopped wild animals from eating them at night.

2 Samuel 21 verses

2 Samuel 21 10 Meaning

2 Samuel 21:10 recounts the extraordinary act of Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, after her two sons (and five grandsons of Saul) were executed by the Gibeonites to atone for Saul's massacre of their people. In profound grief and devotion, she took sackcloth, a symbol of mourning, and spread it on the rock where the bodies lay. She vigilantly guarded the corpses of the deceased from scavenging birds and wild beasts from the early barley harvest until the long-awaited rain, signifying the end of the three-year famine, fell from the heavens. Her selfless act underscored the depth of her love, preserved the dignity of the dead in defiance of customary disgrace, and implicitly contributed to the narrative of divine reconciliation and renewal.

2 Samuel 21 10 Context

This verse is set during King David's reign, immediately following a three-year famine that had gripped Israel. The famine was understood to be a divine judgment for Saul's sin of violating a sacred covenant with the Gibeonites by seeking to annihilate them (2 Sam 21:1-2). To appease the Gibeonites and presumably end the drought, David consented to their demand for retribution: the execution of seven of Saul's male descendants. Rizpah, one of Saul's concubines, was the mother of two of these men, Armoni and Mephibosheth (2 Sam 21:8). These men were hanged or impaled on a hill near Gibeah. The Mosaic Law stipulated that bodies hung on a tree were to be buried before nightfall to prevent the land from being defiled (Deut 21:22-23). Rizpah's unwavering vigil over their corpses for months was an act of profound maternal love, public lamentation, and an extraordinary appeal for dignity in the face of immense dishonor, as the exposed bodies would become carrion. Her action not only moved David to provide proper burial for the dead but also signified the complete and visual satisfaction of the Gibeonites' demands and, critically, the ending of the famine by divine intervention.

2 Samuel 21 10 Word analysis

• And Rizpah: w'Ritzpah (וְרִצְפָּה). Rizpah means "hot coal" or "pavement," which ironically foreshadows her fervent, enduring presence by the bodies on the scorching rock. Her act reveals deep maternal love and defiance against the humiliation intended for the deceased.
• the daughter of Aiah: bath 'Ayah (בַּת־אַיָּה). Aiah can mean "falcon" or "kite." This parentage ironically connects her lineage to the very birds she valiantly sought to ward off the dead bodies, highlighting the poignancy of her protective efforts.
• took sackcloth: lāqḥâ saq (לָקְחָה שַׂק). Sackcloth (שַׂק, saq) was a coarse fabric, often made of goat's hair, worn as a garment of mourning, penitence, or extreme distress. Its use here indicates Rizpah's public, persistent lament.
• and spread it for herself on the rock: wat-taṭṭeh lāh ʿal ha-tsur (וַתַּטֶּה לָהּ עַל־הַצּוּר). The "rock" (הַצּוּר, ha-tzur) implies a high, prominent, or specific location where the bodies were exposed, making her vigil public. Spreading sackcloth on it suggests her continuous residence there, exposing herself to the elements as an extension of her mourning.
• from the beginning of harvest: mi-ttḥillath qāṣir (מִתְּחִלַּת קָצִיר). This refers to the barley harvest, typically beginning in April, followed by the wheat harvest, lasting into early June. This specifies the commencement of her vigil, indicating it spanned at least several weeks, likely longer given "until water dropped."
• until water dropped upon them from the heavens: ʿad nethekh mayim ʿălêhem min haš-šāmayim (עַד־נֶתֶך מַיִם עֲלֵיהֶם מִן־הַשָּׁמַיִם). This phrase is crucial. The arrival of rain (literally "a pouring of water") signified the end of the famine. It was a clear divine sign that the atonement for Saul's sin had been accepted, or at least that Yahweh was satisfied and restoring blessing to the land. Rizpah's persistence until this point aligns her human plea with God's timing.
• and she suffered neither the birds of the air to alight on them: wə-lo' nāṯenâ ʿôf haš-šāmayim lānu'ḥa ʿălêhem (וְלֹא נָתְנָה עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם לָנוּחַ עֲלֵיהֶם). "Birds of the air" (ʿôf haš-šāmayim) refers to scavenger birds, such as vultures or ravens. Allowing bodies to be desecrated by such means was a sign of extreme disgrace and a curse (Deut 28:26). Rizpah’s action was a valiant struggle against this indignity.
• nor the beasts of the field to come near them: wə-bəhēmṯ haś-śādeh lāgêšeṯ bām (וּבְהֵמַת הַשָּׂדֶה לָגֶשֶׁת בָּם). "Beasts of the field" (bəhēmṯ haś-śādeh) refers to wild animals that might scavenge, like jackals or wild dogs. Preventing this was part of her persistent dedication to preserving the bodies' integrity, a defiant act against complete dehumanization.

2 Samuel 21 10 Bonus section

Rizpah's story subtly highlights the roles and often unseen sacrifices of women in biblical narratives, moving David, who might have overlooked the burial details amidst political reconciliation. Her single-minded dedication in the face of gruesome public display speaks volumes about honor, grief, and unyielding love in ancient Israelite culture, where improper burial was considered a severe dishonor. Some interpretations see her actions as contributing to a communal "sacred space" around the dead, influencing the subsequent events where David gathered the bones of Saul and Jonathan (from Jabesh-gilead) and these seven men, providing them all with a dignified, collective burial. This ultimately fulfilled Saul's dying wishes for an honorable burial for his lineage. Her persistent intercession, even for the dead, led to a compassionate resolution.

2 Samuel 21 10 Commentary

2 Samuel 21:10 vividly portrays Rizpah's extraordinary devotion and tenacity, elevating her to a figure of profound sorrow and resilience. Her months-long vigil on the exposed rock, enduring the elements and tirelessly fending off scavengers, transcends a mere act of mourning. It was a powerful, silent protest against the custom of allowing disgraced bodies to be left unburied and defiled, particularly given the Deuteronomic law (Deut 21:22-23) requiring immediate burial for those executed and hung. This was not a legal observance but a divine judgment. Rizpah's defiance challenged this implicit defilement.

Her sacrifice was significant in two key ways. Firstly, it underscored the value and dignity of human life, even in death, and the powerful bond of maternal love that sought to honor her sons and protect them from ultimate indignity. Secondly, by persevering until the life-giving rain returned, her actions highlighted the connection between human suffering, divine judgment (the famine), and eventual divine favor (the rain). The rain, a tangible sign of Yahweh's acceptance or mollification, served as vindication for Rizpah's unwavering vigil and spurred David to ensure a proper burial for all the executed, fulfilling a sense of restorative justice. Her self-sacrificing act became a poignant interlude in a dark narrative of vengeance and national atonement.