New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
2 Samuel 21
1
For three years in a row there wasn't enough food in the land. That was while David was king. So David asked the Lord why he wasn't showing his favor to his people. The Lord said, "It is because Saul and his family committed murder. He put the people of Gibeon to death."
2
The people of Gibeon weren't a part of Israel. Instead, they were some of the Amorites who were still left alive. The people of Israel had promised with an oath to spare them. But Saul had tried to put an end to them. That's because he wanted to make Israel and Judah strong. So now King David sent for the people of Gibeon and spoke to them.
3
He asked them, "What would you like me to do for you? How can I make up for the wrong things that were done to you? I want you to be able to pray that the Lord will once again bless his land."
Reference
4
The people of Gibeon answered him. They said, "No amount of silver or gold can make up for what Saul and his family did to us. And we can't put anyone in Israel to death." "What do you want me to do for you?" David asked.
5
They answered the king, "Saul nearly destroyed us. He made plans to wipe us out. We don't have anywhere to live in Israel.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 21:1
6
So let seven of the males in his family line be given to us. We'll kill them. We'll put their dead bodies out in the open in the sight of the Lord. We'll do it at Gibeah of Saul. Saul was the Lord's chosen king." So King David said, "I'll give seven males to you."
Reference
7
The king spared Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of Saul. David had taken an oath in the sight of the Lord. He had promised to be kind to Jonathan and the family line of his father Saul.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Samuel 4:4
2 Samuel 9:10
References David
1 Samuel 18:3
1 Samuel 20:17
References Lord
1 Samuel 20:8
1 Samuel 20:15
1 Samuel 23:18
1 Samuel 20:42
8
But the king chose Armoni and another Mephibosheth. They were the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah. Saul was their father. The king also chose the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab. Adriel, the son of Barzillai, was their father. Adriel was from Meholah.
Reference
People
9
King David handed them over to the people of Gibeon. They killed them. They put their dead bodies out in the open on a hill in the sight of the Lord. All seven of them died together. They were put to death during the first days of the harvest. It happened just when people were beginning to harvest the barley.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ruth 1:22
10
Aiah's daughter Rizpah got some black cloth. She spread it out for herself on a rock. She stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until it rained. The rain poured down from the sky on the dead bodies of the seven males. She didn't let the birds of the air touch them by day. She didn't let the wild animals touch them at night.
Reference
11
Someone told David what Rizpah had done. She was Aiah's daughter and Saul's concubine.
12
David got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. He got them from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. They had taken them in secret from the main street in Beth Shan. That's where the Philistines had hung their bodies up on the city wall. They had done it after they struck Saul down on Mount Gilboa.
Reference
Parallel theme
Joshua 17:11
13
David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from Jabesh Gilead. The bones of the seven males who had been killed and put out in the open were also gathered up.
14
The bones of Saul and his son Jonathan were buried in the tomb of Saul's father Kish. The tomb was at Zela in the territory of Benjamin. Everything the king commanded was done. After that, God answered prayer and blessed the land.
Reference
15
Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines. He became very tired.
Reference
16
Ishbi-Benob belonged to the family line of Rapha. The tip of his bronze spear weighed seven and a half pounds. He was also armed with a new sword. He said he would kill David.
Reference
People
17
But Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, came to save David. He struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David's men took an oath and made a promise. They said to David, "We never want you to go out with us to battle again. You are the lamp of Israel's kingdom. We want that lamp to keep on burning brightly."
Reference
18
There was another battle against the Philistines. It took place at Gob. At that time Sibbecai killed Saph. Sibbecai was a Hushathite. Saph was from the family line of Rapha.
Reference
📍 Gob
People
19
In another battle against the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan killed Goliath's brother. Elhanan was the son of Jaare-Oregim from Bethlehem. Goliath was from the city of Gath. His spear was as big as a weaver's rod.
Reference
📍 Gob
People
20
There was still another battle. It took place at Gath. A huge man lived there. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. So the total number of his toes and fingers was 24. He was also from the family of Rapha.
Reference
21
He made fun of Israel. So Jonathan killed him. Jonathan was the son of David's brother Shimeah.
Reference
People
Summary of 2 Samuel 21
This chapter presents two major themes: restoring justice from the past and experiencing victory through faithful servants.
The chapter begins with a three-year famine during David's reign. David seeks God and learns that the famine is connected to Saul's actions against the Gibeonites. Saul had broken Israel's covenant with them by attempting to destroy them, bringing guilt upon the nation.
David meets with the Gibeonites and seeks a resolution. They request seven descendants of Saul as justice for the suffering caused by Saul's actions. David agrees but protects Mephibosheth because of his covenant with Jonathan. After the judgment is carried out, Rizpah, the mother of two of the executed men, mourns and protects the bodies. Her actions move David to arrange a proper burial for Saul, Jonathan, and the others. After this act of justice and respect, God restores the land and the famine ends.
The second half of the chapter records battles against the Philistines. David personally enters battle but becomes exhausted and nearly dies at the hands of a giant warrior. His soldiers recognize that David's life is too important to risk and ask him not to fight personally again.
The chapter then highlights David's warriors who defeat several descendants of the giants. These victories show that God's strength was working through many faithful servants, not only through David himself.
Overall, 2 Samuel 21 teaches that unresolved injustice must be addressed, promises must be honored, and God's purposes continue through faithful people. The chapter connects Israel's past, present, and future by showing that actions have consequences, but restoration is possible when justice and faithfulness are pursued.
The chapter begins with a three-year famine during David's reign. David seeks God and learns that the famine is connected to Saul's actions against the Gibeonites. Saul had broken Israel's covenant with them by attempting to destroy them, bringing guilt upon the nation.
David meets with the Gibeonites and seeks a resolution. They request seven descendants of Saul as justice for the suffering caused by Saul's actions. David agrees but protects Mephibosheth because of his covenant with Jonathan. After the judgment is carried out, Rizpah, the mother of two of the executed men, mourns and protects the bodies. Her actions move David to arrange a proper burial for Saul, Jonathan, and the others. After this act of justice and respect, God restores the land and the famine ends.
The second half of the chapter records battles against the Philistines. David personally enters battle but becomes exhausted and nearly dies at the hands of a giant warrior. His soldiers recognize that David's life is too important to risk and ask him not to fight personally again.
The chapter then highlights David's warriors who defeat several descendants of the giants. These victories show that God's strength was working through many faithful servants, not only through David himself.
Overall, 2 Samuel 21 teaches that unresolved injustice must be addressed, promises must be honored, and God's purposes continue through faithful people. The chapter connects Israel's past, present, and future by showing that actions have consequences, but restoration is possible when justice and faithfulness are pursued.