Keraia
2 Samuel 21

2 Samuel 21:2

David Avenges the Gibeonites · 2 Samuel 21:1–14
Read 2 Samuel 21

Translations

Modern
At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)
Traditional
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.)
Literal
And the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (And the Gibeonites, they were not of the sons of Israel, for they were only of the remnant of the Amorite. And the sons of Israel had sworn protection to them, and Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah.)
Latin
Vocatis ergo Gabaonitis rex, dixit ad eos (porro Gabaonitæ non erant de filiis Israël, sed reliquiæ Amorrhæorum: filii quippe Israël juraverant eis, et voluit Saul percutere eos zelo, quasi pro filiis Israël et Juda),

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.)

Notes

2 Samuel 21:2

  • Though the Amorites were a specific group of people (Genesis 10:16), here it refers to the people living in Canaan before the Israelites.

  • When zeal (strong devotion or passion) is directed in the right way, it is commendable. The Bible gives positive examples of this kind of zeal (Numbers 25:11; 1 Kings 19:10). Saul’s zeal, however, was misdirected. He showed clear disregard for Israel’s covenant (a binding agreement) with the Gibeonites.

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 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

Events

People

Amorites: Canaanite people group, enemies of Israel Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province Saul: First king of Israel, anointed by Samuel

Places

Gibeon: Hivite city that tricked Joshua into a peace treaty

Glossary

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

Topics

Amorites: Not Exterminated 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 Gibeon: A City of the Hivites Gibeon: A City of the Hivites: Seven Sons of Saul Killed At, to Avenge the Inhabitants of Gibeonites: Descended from the Hivites and Amorites Gibeonites: Saul Sought to Destroy Israel: The Two Factions are Distinguished As Israel and Judah During David's Reign Saul: King of Israel: Kills the Gibeonites; Crime Avenged by the Death of Seven of his Sons The Amorites: The Gibeonites a Tribe of, Deceived Israel Into a League Zeal: Sometimes Wrongly Directed