2 Samuel 21 2

2 Samuel 21:2 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.)

2 Samuel 21:2 nkjv

So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.

2 Samuel 21:2 niv

The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.)

2 Samuel 21:2 esv

So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites. Although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to strike them down in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.

2 Samuel 21:2 nlt

So the king summoned the Gibeonites. They were not part of Israel but were all that was left of the nation of the Amorites. The people of Israel had sworn not to kill them, but Saul, in his zeal for Israel and Judah, had tried to wipe them out.

2 Samuel 21 verses

2 Samuel 21 2 Meaning

2 Samuel 21:2 reveals the underlying cause of a devastating three-year famine that afflicted Israel during David's reign: King Saul's violation of a sacred covenant with the Gibeonites. This verse explains that the Gibeonites were not Israelites but remnants of the Amorites, with whom Israel had made a solemn oath during the time of Joshua. Despite this divine covenant, Saul, motivated by a misguided "zeal" for the people of Israel and Judah, attempted to eradicate them. This unlawful action was a direct affront to God, resulting in His judgment on the land.

2 Samuel 21 2 Context

This verse appears at the beginning of 2 Samuel chapter 21, following an account of David's consolidation of his kingdom. It immediately clarifies why a devastating famine had struck Israel for three consecutive years. David, seeking divine guidance, learned from the Lord that the famine was a judgment "because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he put the Gibeonites to death" (2 Sam 21:1). Verse 2 then elaborates on the Gibeonites' identity and history with Israel, explaining the nature of the offense. The broader historical context includes Joshua's conquest of Canaan, during which the Gibeonites deceptively secured a life-saving covenant from Israel. This covenant, sworn by the Lord, made them distinct among the Canaanite peoples whom God commanded to be utterly dispossessed. Saul's subsequent actions against them thus represented a violation not just of a human promise, but a divine oath. The chapter concludes with the execution of seven of Saul's descendants as recompense, and the subsequent lifting of the famine.

Word Analysis

• So the king called: Refers to King David. He initiates investigation into the famine's cause, showing his reliance on divine counsel, unlike Saul who acted rashly.
• the Gibeonites: (Hebrew: הַגִּבְעֹנִים, hag-gibe'onim) A specific people group inhabiting the city of Gibeon, southwest of Ai. Their distinct identity is crucial; they were not Canaanites who faced wholesale destruction but had a unique, treaty-bound relationship with Israel from the time of Joshua (Josh 9).
• and spoke to them: David's action of engaging directly with those who had been wronged demonstrates a search for truth and justice.
• Now the Gibeonites: Introduces an explanatory clarification about their background.
• were not of the people of Israel: Explicitly states their non-Israelite origin. This highlights that the covenant was made with outsiders, making Saul's violation even more significant as it targeted a protected non-Israelite group within Israel's land.
• but of the remnant of the Amorites: (Hebrew: מִן־הָאֱמֹרִי, min-hā'ĕmōrî) Indicates their ancestry. The Amorites were one of the powerful Canaanite peoples God commanded Israel to dispossess (Gen 15:16). This clarifies that while they were Canaanite, they were set apart by their covenant. The term "remnant" suggests they were survivors who adapted their strategy for survival.
• and the people of Israel had sworn to them: (Hebrew: נִשְׁבְּעוּ לָהֶם, nishbe'û lāhem) The Hebrew verb "sworn" (from shava') indicates a solemn oath, made by divine appeal (in Josh 9:19, it's explicitly "by the LORD"). Such an oath, even obtained deceptively, was binding and sacred in God's eyes, protecting the Gibeonites. Its inviolability demonstrated God's faithfulness to His own name invoked in the oath.
• but Saul had sought to kill them: (Hebrew: בִּקֵּשׁ לְהַכֹּתָם, biqqēš ləhak-kōtām) Reveals Saul's aggressive intention to destroy the Gibeonites. This was not a passive neglect but an active persecution, a complete disregard for the covenant. This contrasts with David’s covenant-keeping with Jonathan's family (2 Sam 9).
• in his zeal: (Hebrew: בְּקַנֹּאתוֹ, bəqannā'tō) From qinna (קִנְאָה), which means passion, jealousy, or zeal. While zeal for God can be positive (Num 25:11), Saul's zeal here was misguided, unlawful, and fueled by his own will rather than God's clear command regarding this specific covenant. It was a nationalistic or legalistic zeal that superseded God's established oath, possibly attempting to finish what Joshua didn't, or to consolidate his kingdom.
• for the people of Israel and Judah: Saul's stated motive, which highlights a misplaced patriotism or attempt to gain favor with his people. This 'zeal' put human nationalism above divine law and sacred covenants. The mention of both Israel and Judah could signify a later period in Saul's reign, when the split between the regions was more pronounced or as an attempt to appeal to both factions.

2 Samuel 21 2 Bonus section

• The famine endured for three years, highlighting the persistent and grave nature of the broken covenant in God's eyes, not just a fleeting consequence.
• Saul's action against the Gibeonites may be seen as characteristic of his increasingly rash and disobedient reign, marked by decisions that elevated his own will above divine instruction (cf. 1 Sam 13, 15).
• The incident reveals God's justice and His steadfastness concerning oaths, even those obtained by deception, demonstrating that His name (invoked in the oath) has ultimate authority and consequence.
• The "zeal" Saul displayed can be compared to Paul's former zeal for Judaism (Phil 3:6), where intense devotion, without true understanding or submission to God's precise will, leads to harmful outcomes.

2 Samuel 21 2 Commentary

2 Samuel 21:2 functions as a critical flashback, explaining the divine judgment of famine through the lens of covenant breaking. It details Saul’s egregious sin against the Gibeonites, not just violating a human treaty, but an oath made under the divine name by Israel's leaders during the time of Joshua. Saul's "zeal" was misplaced and unrighteous, prioritizing a nationalistic fervor or a rigid, unauthorized interpretation of God’s command to clear the land over the sacredness of a divine oath. This act challenged God's integrity and covenant faithfulness, inviting national judgment. The verse thus underscores the gravity of oath-keeping in God’s economy and the enduring consequences of leadership's unrighteousness, even after death. It also serves as a sharp contrast between Saul’s disregard for sacred covenants and David’s diligence in seeking justice and upholding them.