2 samuel 21:1 - There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
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What does "2 samuel 21:1" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 21:1 describes the beginning of a troubling situation for King David and the people of Israel. Let's break it down:
"There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year..." This establishes the problem: a severe famine lasting for an extended period. A famine indicates a major failure of the land to produce crops, leading to hunger and potential starvation. Such a prolonged famine would have been a serious crisis for David's kingdom.
"...and David sought the face of Yahweh." Faced with this national crisis, David, as king, does what was expected of a God-fearing leader: he seeks guidance and explanation from God (Yahweh is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible). "Seeking the face of Yahweh" is a phrase that indicates a deep and earnest attempt to communicate with God through prayer and inquiry.
"Yahweh said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”" This is the crucial part. God reveals the reason for the famine. It isn't merely a natural disaster or bad luck. It's divine retribution. Specifically:
"It is for Saul, and for his bloody house..." The famine is linked to the actions of the previous king, Saul, and his descendants (his "house").
"...because he put the Gibeonites to death." Saul had broken a covenant with the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were a people who had tricked the Israelites into making a treaty with them during the time of Joshua (Joshua 9). The Israelites had sworn an oath not to harm them. Saul, in his zeal (likely to purify the land of non-Israelites), had violated this oath, killing some of them.
Therefore, the verse means: A severe, prolonged famine struck Israel during David's reign. David inquired of God about the cause, and God revealed that the famine was a punishment for the sin of Saul and his family in breaking the ancient covenant with the Gibeonites by murdering some of them. The famine was a direct consequence of breaking a sacred oath, even though it had happened years earlier under a different king. This emphasizes the seriousness of keeping vows and the consequences of actions that violate divine justice.
Theological and Historical Implications:
Corporate Responsibility: The verse raises questions about corporate responsibility and the long-term consequences of sin. The entire nation suffered for the actions of a past leader.
Sanctity of Oaths: It highlights the importance of keeping oaths, even those made to non-Israelites. God holds people accountable for their promises.
Divine Justice: The famine is presented as an act of divine justice, correcting a past wrong. God intervenes in human affairs to ensure that justice is done.
David's Leadership: The verse shows David as a responsible leader who seeks God's guidance in times of crisis and is willing to address past injustices.
The subsequent verses detail how David attempts to atone for Saul's sin by consulting the Gibeonites and allowing them to exact a form of revenge on Saul's descendants, in order to appease them and lift the famine. This raises further ethical questions about the nature of justice and the appropriateness of the actions taken.
2 samuel 21:1 - There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Yahweh. Yahweh said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
What does "2 samuel 21:1" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 21:1 describes the beginning of a troubling situation for King David and the people of Israel. Let's break it down:
"There was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year..." This establishes the problem: a severe famine lasting for an extended period. A famine indicates a major failure of the land to produce crops, leading to hunger and potential starvation. Such a prolonged famine would have been a serious crisis for David's kingdom.
"...and David sought the face of Yahweh." Faced with this national crisis, David, as king, does what was expected of a God-fearing leader: he seeks guidance and explanation from God (Yahweh is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible). "Seeking the face of Yahweh" is a phrase that indicates a deep and earnest attempt to communicate with God through prayer and inquiry.
"Yahweh said, “It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”" This is the crucial part. God reveals the reason for the famine. It isn't merely a natural disaster or bad luck. It's divine retribution. Specifically:
"It is for Saul, and for his bloody house..." The famine is linked to the actions of the previous king, Saul, and his descendants (his "house").
"...because he put the Gibeonites to death." Saul had broken a covenant with the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were a people who had tricked the Israelites into making a treaty with them during the time of Joshua (Joshua 9). The Israelites had sworn an oath not to harm them. Saul, in his zeal (likely to purify the land of non-Israelites), had violated this oath, killing some of them.
Therefore, the verse means: A severe, prolonged famine struck Israel during David's reign. David inquired of God about the cause, and God revealed that the famine was a punishment for the sin of Saul and his family in breaking the ancient covenant with the Gibeonites by murdering some of them. The famine was a direct consequence of breaking a sacred oath, even though it had happened years earlier under a different king. This emphasizes the seriousness of keeping vows and the consequences of actions that violate divine justice.
Theological and Historical Implications:
Corporate Responsibility: The verse raises questions about corporate responsibility and the long-term consequences of sin. The entire nation suffered for the actions of a past leader.
Sanctity of Oaths: It highlights the importance of keeping oaths, even those made to non-Israelites. God holds people accountable for their promises.
Divine Justice: The famine is presented as an act of divine justice, correcting a past wrong. God intervenes in human affairs to ensure that justice is done.
David's Leadership: The verse shows David as a responsible leader who seeks God's guidance in times of crisis and is willing to address past injustices.
The subsequent verses detail how David attempts to atone for Saul's sin by consulting the Gibeonites and allowing them to exact a form of revenge on Saul's descendants, in order to appease them and lift the famine. This raises further ethical questions about the nature of justice and the appropriateness of the actions taken.