2 samuel 21:2 - The king called the Gibeonites, and said to 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 to them; and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);
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What does "2 samuel 21:2" mean?
This verse sets the stage for a significant event in 2 Samuel 21. Let's break down each part:
"The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them...": This indicates that King David is addressing the Gibeonites directly. Something has prompted him to seek them out.
"(now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites...": This is crucial background information. The Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were descended from the Amorites, one of the original Canaanite inhabitants of the land.
"...and the children of Israel had sworn to them...": This refers to a treaty made in Joshua 9. The Gibeonites tricked Joshua and the Israelites into making a covenant of peace, promising to protect them. This oath was binding, even though it was obtained through deception.
"...and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah;)": This is the core issue. King Saul, David's predecessor, broke the oath made by the Israelites to the Gibeonites. Driven by his misguided fervor to purify the land and benefit the Israelites and Judah, Saul attempted to exterminate the Gibeonites.
In summary, this verse explains:
Who the Gibeonites were: Non-Israelites, descendants of the Amorites.
Their protected status: The Israelites were bound by an oath to protect them.
Saul's transgression: King Saul violated this oath by trying to kill the Gibeonites, motivated by a zealous desire to purify the land for the Israelites.
Significance:
This verse explains the context for David's actions in the rest of 2 Samuel 21. A famine had struck Israel, and God revealed to David that it was because of Saul's unatoned sin against the Gibeonites. David is now seeking to rectify Saul's wrong to appease God and end the famine. It highlights the importance of keeping oaths, even those obtained through deception, and the consequences of violating them. It also serves as a commentary on the dangers of zealous, yet misguided, actions, even when seemingly motivated by good intentions.
2 samuel 21:2 - The king called the Gibeonites, and said to 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 to them; and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);
What does "2 samuel 21:2" mean?
This verse sets the stage for a significant event in 2 Samuel 21. Let's break down each part:
"The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them...": This indicates that King David is addressing the Gibeonites directly. Something has prompted him to seek them out.
"(now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites...": This is crucial background information. The Gibeonites were not Israelites. They were descended from the Amorites, one of the original Canaanite inhabitants of the land.
"...and the children of Israel had sworn to them...": This refers to a treaty made in Joshua 9. The Gibeonites tricked Joshua and the Israelites into making a covenant of peace, promising to protect them. This oath was binding, even though it was obtained through deception.
"...and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah;)": This is the core issue. King Saul, David's predecessor, broke the oath made by the Israelites to the Gibeonites. Driven by his misguided fervor to purify the land and benefit the Israelites and Judah, Saul attempted to exterminate the Gibeonites.
In summary, this verse explains:
Who the Gibeonites were: Non-Israelites, descendants of the Amorites.
Their protected status: The Israelites were bound by an oath to protect them.
Saul's transgression: King Saul violated this oath by trying to kill the Gibeonites, motivated by a zealous desire to purify the land for the Israelites.
Significance:
This verse explains the context for David's actions in the rest of 2 Samuel 21. A famine had struck Israel, and God revealed to David that it was because of Saul's unatoned sin against the Gibeonites. David is now seeking to rectify Saul's wrong to appease God and end the famine. It highlights the importance of keeping oaths, even those obtained through deception, and the consequences of violating them. It also serves as a commentary on the dangers of zealous, yet misguided, actions, even when seemingly motivated by good intentions.