Keraia
2 Samuel 21

2 Samuel 21:9

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

Translations

Modern
And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Traditional
And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
Literal
…and he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the face of YHWH. And they fell seven together, and they were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days in the beginning of the harvest of barley.
Latin
…et dedit eos in manus Gabaonitarum: qui crucifixerunt eos in monte coram Domino: et ceciderunt hi septem simul occisi in diebus messis primis, incipiente messione hordei.

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Notes

2 Samuel 21:9

  • The barley harvest began in the spring, usually in April.

  • before the LORD means "before the Lord's altar" (see study note on 2 Samuel 21:6).

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

Places

Gibeon: Hivite city that tricked Joshua into a peace treaty

Glossary

Adriel Aiah Armoni Avenger of Blood Barzillai Criminal Law and Punishment Gibeon, Gibeonites Impalement Rephaim Rizpah Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Adriel: Saul's Son-In-Law Ajah: Father of Rizpah 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: Seven Sons of Saul Killed At, to Avenge the Inhabitants of Gibeonites: Effected the Destruction of the Remnant of Saul's House Mephibosheth: Son of Saul by Rizpah, Whom David Surrendered to the Gibeonites to be Killed Rizpah: Guards the Bodies of Her Sons Who Were Hanged by the Command of David Saul: King of Israel: Kills the Gibeonites; Crime Avenged by the Death of Seven of his Sons