21:1 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, 'It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.'
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 1 , During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, 'It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.'
21:2 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.)
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 2 , 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.)
21:3 David asked the Gibeonites, 'What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the Lord's inheritance?'
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 3 , David asked the Gibeonites, 'What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the Lord's inheritance?'
21:4 The Gibeonites answered him, 'We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.' 'What do you want me to do for you?' David asked.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 4 , The Gibeonites answered him, 'We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.' 'What do you want me to do for you?' David asked.
21:5 They answered the king, 'As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel,
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 5 , They answered the king, 'As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel,
21:6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul--the Lord's chosen one.' So the king said, 'I will give them to you.'
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 6 , let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and exposed before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul--the Lord's chosen one.' So the king said, 'I will give them to you.'
21:7 The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 7 , The king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
21:8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 8 , But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah, whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
21:9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the LORD. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 9 , He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed and exposed them on a hill before the LORD. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.
21:10 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 of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 10 , 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 of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night.
21:11 When David was told what Aiah's daughter Rizpah, Saul's concubine, had done,
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 11 , When David was told what Aiah's daughter Rizpah, Saul's concubine, had done,
21:12 he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.)
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 12 , he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had taken them secretly from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.)
21:13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 13 , David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.
21:14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 14 , They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
21:15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 15 , Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted.
21:16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 16 , And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David.
21:17 But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, saying, 'Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.'
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 17 , But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, saying, 'Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.'
21:18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 18 , In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.
21:19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 19 , In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod.
21:20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot--twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 20 , In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot--twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha.
21:21 When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David's brother, killed him.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 21 , When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David's brother, killed him.
21:22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.
The NIV Book of 2Samuel , Chapter 21 , Verse 22 , These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.
