2 samuel 21:10 - Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "2 samuel 21:10" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 21:10 describes a powerful and tragic act of mourning and defiance by Rizpah. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
Context: This verse is part of a larger narrative in 2 Samuel 21. King David is dealing with a famine in Israel. He learns that the famine is divine punishment for Saul's earlier killing of the Gibeonites, despite a covenant promising their safety. To atone, David delivers seven of Saul's descendants, including Rizpah's two sons, to the Gibeonites, who execute them.
Rizpah's Actions:
"Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for herself on the rock...": Sackcloth was a coarse, uncomfortable material worn as a sign of mourning and repentance. Spreading it on the rock indicates Rizpah's intent to stay there for a long time. The "rock" likely refers to the place where her sons and the other descendants of Saul had been killed and their bodies left exposed.
"...from the beginning of harvest until water poured on them from the sky.": This establishes the duration of her vigil. "Beginning of harvest" would have been in the spring, and the phrase "water poured on them from the sky" refers to the start of the rainy season in the autumn/winter. So Rizpah stayed beside the bodies for months, during the hottest and driest time of year.
"She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night.": This is the most significant part. Rizpah actively guarded the corpses of her sons and the others from being scavenged by birds and wild animals.
Interpretation:
Grief and Mourning: Rizpah's actions express profound grief over the deaths of her sons. Her extended vigil and the harsh conditions under which she mourned demonstrate the depth of her sorrow.
Motherly Love and Devotion: Rizpah's behavior is a testament to her unwavering love and devotion to her sons. Even in death, she protects them from desecration.
Defiance and Protest: Beyond mourning, Rizpah's actions can be interpreted as a form of protest against the injustice of the situation. She is challenging the legitimacy of the execution and the treatment of the bodies. By publicly guarding them, she is bringing attention to their fate and, implicitly, criticizing David's decision.
Impact: Rizpah's actions are eventually noticed by King David, who is moved by her dedication and the impact her actions are having on the public perception of the situation. He then orders that the bones of Saul and Jonathan be gathered and buried with honor alongside the remains of those executed, bringing an end to the famine.
Significance: Rizpah's story is a powerful example of maternal love, grief, and defiance. It highlights the human cost of political decisions and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of tragedy. Her actions ultimately lead to a resolution that honors the dead and restores balance to the land. She is a reminder of the power of individual action to challenge authority and affect change.
2 samuel 21:10 - Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water poured on them from the sky. She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night.
What does "2 samuel 21:10" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 21:10 describes a powerful and tragic act of mourning and defiance by Rizpah. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
Context: This verse is part of a larger narrative in 2 Samuel 21. King David is dealing with a famine in Israel. He learns that the famine is divine punishment for Saul's earlier killing of the Gibeonites, despite a covenant promising their safety. To atone, David delivers seven of Saul's descendants, including Rizpah's two sons, to the Gibeonites, who execute them.
Rizpah's Actions:
"Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for herself on the rock...": Sackcloth was a coarse, uncomfortable material worn as a sign of mourning and repentance. Spreading it on the rock indicates Rizpah's intent to stay there for a long time. The "rock" likely refers to the place where her sons and the other descendants of Saul had been killed and their bodies left exposed.
"...from the beginning of harvest until water poured on them from the sky.": This establishes the duration of her vigil. "Beginning of harvest" would have been in the spring, and the phrase "water poured on them from the sky" refers to the start of the rainy season in the autumn/winter. So Rizpah stayed beside the bodies for months, during the hottest and driest time of year.
"She allowed neither the birds of the sky to rest on them by day, nor the animals of the field by night.": This is the most significant part. Rizpah actively guarded the corpses of her sons and the others from being scavenged by birds and wild animals.
Interpretation:
Grief and Mourning: Rizpah's actions express profound grief over the deaths of her sons. Her extended vigil and the harsh conditions under which she mourned demonstrate the depth of her sorrow.
Motherly Love and Devotion: Rizpah's behavior is a testament to her unwavering love and devotion to her sons. Even in death, she protects them from desecration.
Defiance and Protest: Beyond mourning, Rizpah's actions can be interpreted as a form of protest against the injustice of the situation. She is challenging the legitimacy of the execution and the treatment of the bodies. By publicly guarding them, she is bringing attention to their fate and, implicitly, criticizing David's decision.
Impact: Rizpah's actions are eventually noticed by King David, who is moved by her dedication and the impact her actions are having on the public perception of the situation. He then orders that the bones of Saul and Jonathan be gathered and buried with honor alongside the remains of those executed, bringing an end to the famine.
Significance: Rizpah's story is a powerful example of maternal love, grief, and defiance. It highlights the human cost of political decisions and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of tragedy. Her actions ultimately lead to a resolution that honors the dead and restores balance to the land. She is a reminder of the power of individual action to challenge authority and affect change.