2 Samuel 21 · Verse 1

2 Samuel 21:1

Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
2 Samuel 21:1, King James Version

2 Samuel 21:1 in other translations

BSBDuring the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”
WEBThere was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. The LORD said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
ASVAnd there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.
YLTAnd there is a famine in the days of David three years, year after year, and David seeketh the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah saith, ‘For Saul and for the bloody house, because that he put to death the Gibeonites.'
DARBYAnd there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his house of blood, because he slew the Gibeonites.
BBEIn the days of David they were short of food for three years, year after year; and David went before the Lord for directions. And the Lord said, On Saul and on his family there is blood, because he put the Gibeonites to death.
WebsterThen there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

What does 2 Samuel 21:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2Sa 21:1-9. The Three Years' Famine for the Gibeonites Cease by Hanging Seven of Saul's Sons. 1. the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites--The sacred history has not recorded either the time or the reason of this massacre. Some think that they were sufferers in the atrocity perpetrated by Saul at Nob (1Sa 22:19), where many of them may have resided as attendants of the priests; while others suppose it more probable that the attempt was made afterwards, with a view to regain the popularity he had lost throughout the nation by that execrable outrage.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

A famine taking place three successive years in Israel, David inquired of the Lord the cause; and was informed that it was on account of Saul and his bloody house, who had slain the Gibeonites, 2Sam 21:1. David inquires of the Gibeonites what atonement they require, and they answer, seven sons of Saul, that they may hang them up in Gibeah, 2Sam 21:2-6. Names of the seven sons thus given up, 2Sam 21:7-9. Affecting account of Rizpah, who watched the bodies through the whole of the time of harvest, to prevent them from being devoured by birds and beasts of prey, 2Sam 21:10. David is informed of Rizpah's conduct, and collects the bones of Saul, Jonathan, and the seven men that were hanged at Gibeah, and buries them; and God is entreated for the land, 2Sam 21:11-14. War between the Israelites and Philistines, in which David is in danger of being slain by Ishbi-benob, but is succoured by Abishai, 2Sam 21:15-17. He, and several gigantic Philistines, are slain by David and his servants, 2Sam 21:18-22. Verse 1 Then there was a famine - Of this famine we know nothing; it is not mentioned in any part of the history of David. Because he slew the Gibeonites - No such fact is mentioned in the life and transactions of Saul; nor is there any reference to it in any other part of Scripture.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 21:1-9
Every affliction arises from sin, and should lead us to repent and humble ourselves before God; but some troubles especially show that they are sent to bring sin to remembrance. God's judgments often look a great way back, which requires us to do so, when we are under his rebukes. It is not for us to object against the people's smarting for the sin of their king; perhaps they helped him. Nor against this generation suffering for the sin of the last. God often visits the sins of the fathers upon the children, and he gives no account of any matters. Time does not wear out the guilt of sin; nor can we build hopes of escape upon the delay of judgments. If we cannot understand all the reasons of Providence in this matter, still we have no right to demand that God should acquaint us with those reasons. It must be right, because it is the will of God, and in the end it will be proved to be so. Money is no satisfaction for blood. It should seem, Saul's posterity trod in his steps, for it is called a bloody house. It was the spirit of the family, therefore they are justly reckoned with for his sin, as well as for their own. The Gibeonites did not require this out of malice against Saul or his family. It was not to gratify any revenge, but for the public good. They were put to death at the beginning of harvest; they were thus sacrificed to turn away the wrath of Almighty God, who had withheld the harvest-mercies for some years past, and to obtain his favour in the present harvest. In vain do we expect mercy from God, unless we do justice upon our sins. Executions must not be thought cruel, which are for the public welfare.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 21:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֣יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
רָעָב֩ra.'Ava famineH7458
בִּימֵ֨יbi.Meiin [the] days ofH3117
דָוִ֜דda.VidDavidH1732
שָׁלֹ֣שׁsha.LoshthreeH7969
שָׁנִ֗יםsha.NimyearsH8141
שָׁנָה֙sha.NahyearH8141
אַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiafterH310
שָׁנָ֔הsha.NahyearH8141
וַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁvay.va.Keshand he soughtH1245
דָּוִ֖דda.VidDavidH1732
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
פְּנֵ֣יpe.Nei[the] face ofH6440
יְהוָ֑ה\ \סYah.wehYahwehH3068
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יְהוָ֗הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶל\־'el-because ofH413
שָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlSaulH7586
וְאֶל\־ve.'el-and because ofH413
בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house ofH1004
הַדָּמִ֔יםha.da.Mim<the> blood<s>H1818
עַל\־'al-onH5921
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-thatH834
הֵמִ֖יתhe.Mithe put to deathH4191
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַגִּבְעֹנִֽים\׃ha.giv.'o.Nimthe GibeonitesH1393

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 21:1

  • Joshua 7:11-12

    Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.

  • Genesis 26:1

    And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

  • Genesis 12:10

    And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

  • 1 Samuel 23:4

    Then David enquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

  • 1 Kings 18:2

    And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

  • 1 Kings 17:1

    And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

  • 2 Samuel 5:19

    And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

  • Psalms 91:15

    He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

  • 2 Samuel 5:23

    And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

  • 1 Samuel 23:2

    Therefore David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

  • Jeremiah 14:1-18

    The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up. And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. …

  • 1 Samuel 22:17-19

    And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord. And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The three years' famine for the Gibeonites ceases, by hanging seven of Saul's sons.
10 Rizpah's kindness unto the dead.
12 David buries the bones of Saul and Jonathan in his father's sepulchre.
15 Four battles against the Philistines, wherein four valiants of David slay four giants.

A.M. 2986. B.C. 1018. An. Ex. Ex. Is. 473. a famine.
Ge 12:10; 26:1; 41:57; 42:1; 43:1; Le 26:19,20,26; 1Ki 17:1; 18:2
2Ki 6:25; 8:1; Jer 14:1-18
enquired. Heb. sought the face, etc. of the Lord.
5:19,23; Nu 27:21; 1Sa 23:2,4,11; Job 5:8-10; 10:2; Ps 50:15; 91:15
It is.
Jos 7:1,11,12
Saul.
1Sa 22:17-19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 21:1

    Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.

  • 2 Samuel 21:2

    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.)

Read all of 2 Samuel 21

2 Samuel 21:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y EN los días de David hubo hambre por tres años consecutivos. Y David consultó á Jehová, y Jehová le dijo: Es por Saúl, y por aquella casa de sangre; porque mató á los Gabaonitas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et il y eut, du temps de David, une famine de trois ans, année après année. Et David rechercha la face de l’ Éternel, et l’ Éternel dit: C’est à cause de Saül et de sa maison de sang, parce qu’il a fait mourir les Gabaonites.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es war Hungersnot in den Tagen Davids drei Jahre, Jahr auf Jahr. Und David suchte das Angesicht Jehovas; und Jehova sprach: Es ist wegen Sauls und wegen des Bluthauses, weil er die Gibeoniter getötet hat.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Facta est quoque fames in diebus David tribus annis jugiter: et consuluit David oraculum Domini. Dixitque Dominus: Propter Saul, et domum ejus sanguinum, quia occidit Gabaonitas.