2 Samuel 21:1

Translations

Modern

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.”

Traditional

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

Literal

And there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David inquired of YHWH. And YHWH answered, “Because of Saul and his house is the blood, on account that he killed the Gibeonites.”

Latin

Facta est quoque fames in diebus David tribus annis jugiter: et consuluit David oraculum Domini. Dixitque Dominus: Propter Saul, et domum ejus sanguinum, quia occidit Gabaonitas.

Interlinear

Hebrew

English

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.”

Notes

2 Samuel 21:1

sought the face of the Lord: The Hebrew verb here is the same as when David "begged" for Bathsheba's child's life (2 Samuel 12:16). In these cases, "seeking" was done in a moment of crisis. However, in the Old Testament, "seeking God" usually means daily devotion and obedience to God (for example, Psalms 40:16; 105:4; Proverbs 28:5).
the blood shed by Saul and his family: The famine happened because they broke an oath made before the Lord (Joshua 9:19–20).
he killed the Gibeonites: This event is not recorded elsewhere. Unlawful bloodshed polluted the land, making it bleak and unproductive (compare Genesis 4:10–12; Numbers 35:30–34).

2 Samuel 21:1–24:25

The final chapters of 2 Samuel form a coda (a concluding section). This section brings together and summarizes the main themes from earlier chapters.

These chapters are thematic, not chronological (arranged by topic, not by time). Because of this, not all the events happened at the end of David’s reign (for example, 2 Samuel 22:1).

The material is arranged using a common Hebrew literary pattern called a chiasm (a mirror-like structure). In a chiasm, the first and last sections match, and the middle section is the focus.

The structure of this chiasm is as follows:

A: Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 21:1–14)
- B: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 21:15–22)
  - C: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 22:1–51)
  - C′: David’s Psalm (2 Samuel 23:1–7)
- B′: David’s warriors and their heroic deeds (2 Samuel 23:8–39)
A′: David’s sin involving the census and the punishment that affected the whole community (2 Samuel 24:1–25)

A chiasm draws attention to the center section. Here, the center is David’s hymns. These hymns do not focus on David himself. Instead, they focus on David’s God.

Theme notes and profiles

David Famine

Events

Reign of Davidc. 1055 BC

Related verses

Joshua 7:11–12
Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.
Genesis 26:1
Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.
Genesis 12:10
Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
1 Kings 17:1
Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”
Psalm 91:15
When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.
1 Samuel 23:11
Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD.
2 Samuel 5:19
So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
2 Samuel 5:23
So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
1 Kings 18:2
So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria,
1 Samuel 23:4
Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
Jeremiah 14:1–18
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
2 Kings 6:25
So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver.

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Saul: First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel

Places

Gibeon: Hivite city that tricked Joshua into a peace treaty

Glossary

Adriel Armoni Avenger of Blood Barzillai Criminal Law and Punishment Curse, Cursed Famine Gibeon, Gibeonites Rephaim Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Canaan: Land of Famines In Covenant of Men with Men: Breach of, Punished David: Consigns Seven Sons of Saul to the Gibeonites to be Killed to Atone for Saul's Persecution of the Gibeonites David: King of Israel: Death and Burial of Saul and his Sons Famine in Canaan Famine: Instances of, in Scripture in the Reign of David Gibeon: A City of the Hivites: Seven Sons of Saul Killed At, to Avenge the Inhabitants of Gibeonites: Israel Plagued for Saul's Cruelty To Saul: King of Israel: Kills the Gibeonites; Crime Avenged by the Death of Seven of his Sons Sin: The Israelites The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Saul's Family Time: Computed by Years

2 Samuel 21:1

Translations?

Interlinear?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

People

Places

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Interlinear

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics