2 Samuel Chapter 21

2 Samuel 21 records four significant events that reveal God's justice, His faithfulness to His covenant, and His continued deliverance of Israel through David and his mighty men.The chapter begins with a three-year famine during David's reign. David seeks the Lord, who reveals that the famine is a judgment because King Saul had violated Israel's covenant with the Gibeonites by attempting to destroy them. Although Saul's actions may have seemed patriotic, they broke a sacred oath made by Joshua centuries earlier. To satisfy justice, the Gibeonites request that seven of Saul's male descendants be handed over for execution. David honors their request but spares Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, because of his covenant with Jonathan. The seven men are executed before the Lord.One of the most moving scenes in Scripture follows. Rizpah, the mother of two of the executed men, remains beside the bodies for months, protecting them from birds by day and wild animals by night. Her remarkable display of love and devotion deeply moves David. In response, David gathers the bones of Saul and Jonathan, along with the remains of the executed descendants, and gives them a proper burial in the family tomb. After this act of justice and honor, God removes the famine from the land.The remainder of the chapter records four battles between David's warriors and the Philistine giants, descendants of the giants from Gath. David himself grows weary in battle and is nearly killed by Ishbi-benob, a giant armed with a massive spear. Abishai rescues David, and David's men insist that he no longer fight on the front lines, recognizing his importance to Israel as "the lamp of Israel."The chapter concludes with accounts of David's mighty warriors defeating several other giants, including the brother of Goliath and another giant with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. These victories demonstrate God's continued faithfulness in delivering Israel from its enemies.