But it does not say so here in so many words. Gave 7 of Saul's sons to the Gibeonites. If people grow up in a society and culture that does not have God at their beck and call, they do whatever they wantwhatever comes naturally. I will do it." God punished the whole nation for breaking the covenant. WebA three years' famine in the days of David was attributed to God's anger at the unexpiated crime of Saul in slaying the Gibeonites. He was not thinking spiritually. However, we have a great deal of trouble identifying with or understanding pure, innocent and perfect Galahad. I also want you to see how warlike Saul was. God did not necessarily overlook all their sins, but He certainly forgave them. And the Lord said, There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death. 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. God did not perform a miracle to end this famine after these men were executed. Does the Bible encourage the practice of Lent? Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. We can't withstand them. The Gibeonites were a very shrewd bunch of people. They were appeasing their own god to send rain. It wouldnt be surprising if these people had become worshippers of God, from their exposure to the tabernacle and teaching. And the king said, "I will give them." I think he was very low. God took the initiative in this matter, by afflicting the nation of Israel with a famine because the house of Saul had put the Gibeonites to death. And those two are questionable. Matt 24:4/Mk 13:5/Lk 21:8. Deuteronomy 32:4. & "Take heed that you be not deceived." 12 Saul said, Listen now, son of Ahitub.. Therefore, they arrive in the camp of Israel, and say, "Where's your leader? So he said, "Whatever you say, I will do for you." God punished the whole nation for breaking the covenant. He was distracted by the cares of this world, by the pulls of this, that, and the other thing, and so he gives in and compromises with the people of the land. Perhaps trickery will be better than war for us.". They agree to the death of seven of Saul's descendants. They may not have been involved at all, depending on how early in Saul's reign this event took place. But, he did not. That would be a town in Benjamin just north of Jerusalem. And the king said, "I will give them.". So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. It is the time of the beginning of the barley harvest. Saul killed a lot of people. But so did David. He gives them exactly what they want, and look at what happens. God!before the Lordin Gibeah of Saul. "There's something rotten in Denmark," as the saying goes. Then, they went after Jericho, and it fell. With all the recent rebellions, he was probably worried that his alliances were going to fail, because he may have appeared to weaken. A person dies for his own sins, not those committed by someone else, whether father, son, or black sheep uncle. Now that we have established that there was a horrible massacre at some point in the past, remember there was sin, and there was a crime committed. WebKing Saul later broke the treaty that Joshua had signed and attacked the Gibeonites. Even so, maybe there were even worse problems, perhaps, and David was blind to them for three years. It says that they were Saul's sons. One other thing: Samuel said that God is not going to go back on His word. God tells us that, spiritually, we have to go and wipe them out. SERIES INTRODUCTION There should have been payment for it. He keeps his word even to his own disadvantage and does not change it [for his own benefit] (Psalm 15:1, 4; AMP). By this time, having fought all his life since he was a teenagerup against Goliath when he was eighteen or soand here he was approaching 70 years old, and he was tired. King Saul later broke the treaty that Joshua had signed and attacked the Gibeonites. Later still, during the time of King David, a famine occurred in Israel. When David asked the Lord about the famine, God said, It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death (2 Samuel 21:1). Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! Jew or gentile? When He visits the iniquity upon successive generations, He is saying is that the results and curses that come automatically often go down a handful of generations. You had to go up quite a bit. That the famine continued indicates God displeasure with David's decision and inner motives. There was not a cloud in sight and you are the king. 0 responses The world's arsenal is growing daily in material strength and sophisticated intimidation. He had a body of law that he could have referred back to and come up with a solution. However there is nothing in the text that indicates he did this. I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. So, he kept his own covenant, but he did not go any further to figure out from God's law to know what should be done in this situation. The Gibeonites presented themselves to the invading Israelites, not as nearby neighbors, but as distant foreigners who lived in a far-off land. In addition, his own soldiers had to tell him, "David, you just don't have it anymore. Notice that I Kings begins not many chapters after this. Why were genealogies so important to Israel? When the Gibeonites heard that the other nations were going to attack them, they sent a message to Joshua and the people, Help! Then they answered the king, "As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel, "let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose." Joshua kept his word to the Gibeonites even when it was inconvenient. There is less bloodshed, and there will not be much opportunity like in Gentile nations for these blood feuds to last for years and generations. We see in this little vignette that innocent people die; grief lingers forever; idolatry is committed; and the curse of famine continues; another harvest fails; and the land remains defiled; everything stinks of death. It was as if David earlier said, "Let's just get this out of the way. HERALDS OF HOLOCAUST However, that is not the case. King Saul exhibited that hubris, that overweening pride in his own decisions and that unfounded confidence in his own good judgment that he brought certain and lasting disaster upon his own dynasty. But what actually did Saul do to the Gibeonites? As mentioned earlier, there was the rebellion of Absalom. And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. And David sought the face of the Lord. The Bible barely alludes to the king's mad scheme, but we know that Saul's plot miserably failed. I am just going to start with the backdrop to the incident. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. . They handed their enemies hard, stale, moldy bread and told them it had been freshly baked when they left home. And we are supposed to be ready. But they refused the offer. When did Saul kill these Gibeonites? However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.". But Joshua had the final decision. It is not genetic. It does not seem to me that during this time of the three years of famine David was emulating the attitude that he wrote about in Psalm 34. Yet, because of the long time that has passed since then until now, when the Gibeonites were asked to bring it up, how many of the guilty ones had died? THE STORY OF JOSEPH - The Bible does not provide us the details of this killing. "We don't want any money, for sure not Saul's money. He just let matters continue naturally and let it rub in for another six or seven months. The Israelites had been dealing with the Gibeonites, who were Hivitesand as it says here, they were a part of the Amorite peoplesince the first days in the land under Joshua. In addition, after this was the rebellion of Sheba, in which there were all kinds of disruptions until Sheba was killed. Now, turn to the episode of King David, which we introduced. Something is wrong. He was not really on the ball like he should have been. But talk about your flawed heroes! There was a great deal of turmoil in Israel leading up to this time. However, there was a difference between Israel's version and the Gentiles' principle of vengeance or retribution. It is tainted.". We have all followed in the same way of life as our first parents Adam and Eve. Although he had peace at this time, I think he was worried because they just had two successive rebellions, and were almost to the point of victory over King David until they were eliminated. We don't hear much of the Gibeonites again until the reign of King Saul. It looks to me like he tried to work out a political solution rather than a righteous one. This would be in the spring during or after the Days of Unleavened Bread. Verse 1 did say that it was "Saul and his bloodthirsty house" who had massacred the Gibeonites. In 2 Samuel 21, we read of the tragic repercussion that followed when King Saul didnt honor the covenant and murdered some Gibeonites. He needed God to forgive him. When were threatened by a Philistine attack, Saul he disobeyed Jehovah by offering a sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel to do it. If you look at a map in the back of your Bible which has something to do with the conquest of Israel, you will see that Gilgal is right over the Jordan River, just on the eastern side of the land. Guilt for sin is not hereditary. ESV - Instead, the Gibeonites demanded the execution of seven of Saul's sons. So, others besides Saul were guilty. God sees behind the scenes. The prophet Zechariah asks a question that is forever pertinent to all spiritual considerations and decisions: "For who hath despised the day of small things?" It is very evident from verse 4 that somebody offered money, either from the palace or from the family of Saul. I think that this was a test from God, and David failed spectacularly, except in keeping his promise to Jonathan. God sent the rain, it says specifically, "from heaven," verse 10, "in the latter rains," which is their normal cycle. Web11 Then the king sent for the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all the men of his family, who were the priests at Nob, and they all came to the king. Why was David so loyal to Saul after everything Saul had done to him? That is basically how it was. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Notice God declares that the bloodguilt was not just on Saul, but also his house. It was not just Saul, but other members of his family. He was tired of life, tired of war, tired of all the politics, tired of all the rebellion, tired of Joab. The Lord told them they had made a commitment to these people and they had to stand by it. We have an easier time identifying with the flawed, but heroic, Lancelot from the legends of King Arthur, because he is a lot more like ushe commits sin; he has faults. He gets kicked down the societal ladder for his sin, and it takes three or four generations for the family to recover. Luke 21:36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.". About two years ago, Barry Watson, our lone member in Namibia, wrote me an email message in which this incident was at the heart of it. WebSaul kills the gentile Gibeonites (2 Sam 21) & banishes mediums in preparation for Tabernacle being moved from Nob to Gibeon. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. I am putting this all together from history. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. On the mammoth scene of world history this minor alliance would rank as a minute encounter. He was thinking about a lot of other things. Much later, King Saul ignored this covenant of peace and killed some Gibeonites. And it very seriously affected his judgment in this matter. Saul, after having disqualified WebNow, when they heard that the Gibeonites had made a special treaty with the Israelites they got very angry. You are no longer fit to be king." This is what we have to learnunderstanding the distinction between guilt for sin, and the lingering effects of sin. The consequences are not the guilt. 2Samuel 21:1, There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.. But, very few people can relate to sinless perfection. Deceit and delusion are powerful spiritual weapons of destruction but they pale in potency compared to the creative and edifying Word of God come alive by faith in believers' hearts! Therefore, your kingdom is taken away and given to another. WebWhich city did Saul destroy when he found that its priests had given David's men provision? That is the bottom line. This angered God and was only amended years later after sacrificing seven of Sauls sons to the Gibeonites by hanging them before Jehovah at Sauls hometown, Gibeah. After that, Gibeonites were no longer mentioned though there are some writers who believed that they were among the Nethinim, the ones selected to serve the temple. Back in I Samuel 15, Saul was told by God through Samuel to go up against the Amalekites, and to destroy everything in sight, do not spare anything; exterminate them. He is able to judge justly. Were they participants in killing the Gibeonites? Now it came to pass, when Adonizedec king of Because he may have been still depressed by Absalom's death. Scripture has said this explicitly. Two years is a long time. WebThe Gibeonite Deception - Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these thingsthe kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites) they came together to wage war against Joshua and It is not pretty when we allow the people of the land to dictate to us. Notice verse 2 says that Saul tried to strike them down in his zeal (also means jealously or envy) for the people of Israel and Judah. Throughout the Scriptures warnings of spiritual dangers are signaled by the flash cards of attention getting words like: "Take heed" or "Consider". WebThe alliance with the Gibeonites lasted for centuries, until Saul - in his zeal (21, 2) - decided that the ancient covenant was no longer binding. King David was perhaps the only converted person in the entire nationmaybe besides the high priest of the time, but we do not know. Today, I want to visit one of King David's lesser-known black marks, and draw some lessons from it at the end. Community answers are sorted based on votes. He realized how often, and how far, he strayed from God's way of life. VERSE 2. And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. They made their dust-covered clothes to look worn and ragged as if they had been on the road for many days, even months. The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. He was distracted. Based on what he knew, and what was available in God's law, David should have been much more judicious. We are talking about the possibility of only two of the seven even remotely having any guilt in this matter whatsoever. And we bear the guilt with them for that. They decided to fight with the Gibeonites and teach them a lesson. In fact, look down to verse 15, II Samuel 21:15-17 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. II Samuel 21:1-2 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. He will not relent. This may have only been a couple of months later. Throughout the centuries, the original Gibeonites continued to exist as a people, although King Saul schemed to destroy them. The Gibeonites, howev ", If you are on your spiritual game, and famine is occurring in your land, do you wait three years until thousands may have died? It has got to go. Back to the Gibeonitesmost people probably did not remember it. The two hints are that Saul and his house had a reputation for violence"Saul and his bloodthirsty house." The Bible implicitly hints at something which caused a feud which was settled only by the blood of Sauls descendants. Certainly, after three years you would. He just let them walk all over him. II Samuel 21:1-14 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. It is his sin. So they thought, "Hmm. Other Translations for 2 Samuel 21:1 Discussion for 2 Samuel 21 View All They are going to cause problems. Because of their peace treaty and their oath with the Gibeonites, which included these people. In their poverty and slavery the bowed but ever proud Gibeonites refused financial and other forms of compensation for the attempted genocide on their tribe. He was setting us an example of what we should be doing in a spiritual sense. David did all this, it seems, off the top of his head. Of course, a part of it is being able to look at ourselves and see how dirty, nasty, and rotten we are, and saying, "There is no way that anybody could live in this world without sin; even God's beloved Son.". I Samuel 14:47-48 So Saul established his sovereignty over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, against the people of Ammon, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines. There were no conditions. It springs out when you are not ready. Wherever he turned, he harassed them. God is not bloodthirsty, but He had told them what to do. Israel plagued by allowing the deception Had him over to the palace a few times." 'Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses [another layer that comes in]; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty. Does the devil have power to make us sick? David did not make any counter demands. We have our own sins to pay for; we do not pay for theirs. WebWhen Sauls agents came up, she pretended that David was ill and placed a household idol and a net of goats hair in his bed, as if her husband were still lying there (vv. There are so many things I have got to do.". Something is wrong, David. Has the book of Amos been fulfilled or is it a reference to end times? Ezekiel 18:19-20 Yet you say, 'Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?' The Gibeonites remained enemies and aliens to the household of God forever after. There is not much wiggle room in all this. This indicates that God was not pleased, whatsoever, with how this situation was resolved by David. Justice seems to have been served. How long was the average lifespan at the time? Share Sheba's rebellion is in the previous chapter, II Samuel 20. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. We know that you said not to make a covenant with the people the land. This was obviously later in his life and reign. Where have you been, David? If you read Psalm 51 it is very clear that he understood his own makeup. Lets be clear from the very beginning, David was kind to Mephibosheth for his father Jonathans sake (2 Samuel 9:1). Mephibosheth was only five ye Why didnt Abraham bargain with God when it came to Isaac being offered as a burnt offering like he did when it came to Sodom and Gomorrah? So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest. He did not perform any miracle, or any other thing to show that He was happy with the way that things turned out. It causes a problem in the way that the next generation is formed. It takes into consideration things like accidental death, and premeditation. Israel was totally swindled and bamboozled. Here we find the Gibeonites demand, and King David counter demandsNOT. 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