2 Samuel 21
Following the heels of 2 rebellions, Israel suffers 3 successive years of famine.
On enquiring of the cause God revealed that it was due to king Saul trying to wipe out the Gibeonites.
A bit of a reminder - in case you missed the post on them - the Gibeonites were resident in the land before Joshua and the Israelites invaded it and had been servants of Israel ever since, they made the peace by telling Joshua and the Israelites that they had come a great distance, which fooled them.
Evidently Saul had decided to wipe them out despite their peaceful relationship. This attempted genocide was not acceptable to God, though he took his time in acting!
David asked the Gibeonites what he should do for them to make amends and lift the famine.
The Gibeonites did not want gold or silver, they would not repair the damage done, they demand that 7 of Saul's male descendants be handed over and they would be killed and exhibited in Gibeon.
Surprisingly David accedes to this rather brutal request. Though he protected Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson in memory of Jonathan's friendship with David.
He handed over the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, and 2 sons of Saul's concubine Rizpah. The Gibeonites killed them all and left them on the hillside.
Rizpah took sackcloth and from the beginning of harvest until the rains poured down she kept vigil over the bodies day and night preventing any animals or birds from disturbing them.
When David heard about Rizpah he got the bodies of Saul and Jonathan from Jabesh Gilead where they had been buried shortly after they died. He also gathered up the bodies of those killed and buried them all in the Saul's family tomb in Benjamin.
After this God lifted the famine.
The end of this chapter describes more battles with the Philistines - including Goliath's brother and various other huge men described as "descendants of Rapha" - whoever he was!
Following the heels of 2 rebellions, Israel suffers 3 successive years of famine.
On enquiring of the cause God revealed that it was due to king Saul trying to wipe out the Gibeonites.
A bit of a reminder - in case you missed the post on them - the Gibeonites were resident in the land before Joshua and the Israelites invaded it and had been servants of Israel ever since, they made the peace by telling Joshua and the Israelites that they had come a great distance, which fooled them.
Evidently Saul had decided to wipe them out despite their peaceful relationship. This attempted genocide was not acceptable to God, though he took his time in acting!
David asked the Gibeonites what he should do for them to make amends and lift the famine.
The Gibeonites did not want gold or silver, they would not repair the damage done, they demand that 7 of Saul's male descendants be handed over and they would be killed and exhibited in Gibeon.
Surprisingly David accedes to this rather brutal request. Though he protected Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson in memory of Jonathan's friendship with David.
He handed over the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, and 2 sons of Saul's concubine Rizpah. The Gibeonites killed them all and left them on the hillside.
Rizpah took sackcloth and from the beginning of harvest until the rains poured down she kept vigil over the bodies day and night preventing any animals or birds from disturbing them.
When David heard about Rizpah he got the bodies of Saul and Jonathan from Jabesh Gilead where they had been buried shortly after they died. He also gathered up the bodies of those killed and buried them all in the Saul's family tomb in Benjamin.
After this God lifted the famine.
The end of this chapter describes more battles with the Philistines - including Goliath's brother and various other huge men described as "descendants of Rapha" - whoever he was!
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