Berean Standard Bible

2 Samuel 21

1During the reignבִּימֵ֨יbi.MeiH3117of Davidדָוִ֜דda.VidH1732there wasוַיְהִ֣יvay.HiH1961a famineרָעָב֩ra.'AvH7458for threeשָׁלֹ֣שׁsha.LoshH7969successive yearsאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH8141 H310,and Davidדָּוִ֖דda.VidH1732אֶת־'et-H853soughtוַיְבַקֵּ֥שׁvay.va.KeshH1245the faceפְּנֵ֣יpe.NeiH6440of the LORDיְהוָ֑ה סYah.wehH3068.And the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “It is because ofאֶל־'el-H413the bloodהַדָּמִ֔יםha.da.MimH1818shed by Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586andוְאֶל־ve.'el-H413his familyבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004עַל־'al-H5921,becauseאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834he killedהֵמִ֖יתhe.MitH4191אֶת־'et-H853the Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִֽים׃ha.giv.'o.NimH1393.”

2At this, Davidהַמֶּ֛לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428summonedוַיִּקְרָ֥אvai.yik.Ra'H7121the Gibeonitesלַגִּבְעֹנִ֖יםla.giv.'o.NimH1393and spokeוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to themאֲלֵיהֶ֑ם'a.lei.HemH413. (Now the Gibeonitesוְהַגִּבְעֹנִ֞יםve.ha.giv.'o.NimH1393wereהֵ֗מָּהHe.mahH1992notלֹ֣אlo'H3808Israelitesמִבְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֣לmi.be.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478,butכִּ֚יkiH3588אִם־'im-H518a remnantמִיֶּ֣תֶרmi.Ye.terH3499of the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֔יha.'e.mo.RiH567.The Israelitesוּבְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙u.ve.Nei Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478had taken an oath concerning themנִשְׁבְּע֣וּnish.be.'UH7650,but in his zealבְּקַנֹּאת֥וֹbe.ka.no.ToH7065for Israelלִבְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לliv.nei- Yis.ra.'ElH1121 H3478and Judahוִיהוּדָֽה׃vi.hu.DahH3063,Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586had soughtוַיְבַקֵּ֤שׁvay.va.KeshH1245to kill themלְהַכֹּתָ֔םle.ha.ko.TamH5221.)

3So Davidדָּוִד֙ אֶל־da.Vid 'el-H1732 H413askedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִ֔יםha.giv.'o.NimH1393, “Whatמָ֥הmahH4100shall I doאֶעֱשֶׂ֖ה'e.'e.SehH6213for you?Howוּבַמָּ֣הu.va.MahH4100can I make amendsאֲכַפֵּ֔ר'a.kha.PerH3722so that you may blessוּבָרְכ֖וּu.va.re.KhuH1288אֶת־'et-H853the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֥תna.cha.LatH5159of the LORDיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068?”

4The Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִ֗יםha.giv.'o.NimH1393saidוַיֹּ֧אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him, “We need noאֵֽין־'ein-H369silverכֶּ֤סֶףKe.sefH3701or goldוְזָהָב֙ve.za.HavH2091fromעִם־'im-H5973Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586orוְעִם־ve.'im-H5973his houseבֵּית֔וֹbei.ToH1004,norוְאֵֽין־ve.'ein-H369should youאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376put to deathלְהָמִ֣יתle.ha.MitH4191anyone in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbe.Yis.ra.'ElH3478for us.” “Whateverמָֽה־mah-H4100youאַתֶּ֥ם'a.TemH859askוַיֹּ֛אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I will doאֶעֱשֶׂ֥ה'e.'e.SehH6213for you,”he repliedאֹמְרִ֖ים'o.me.RimH559.

5And they answeredוַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.RuH559אֶל־'el-H413the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428, “As for the manהָאִישׁ֙ha.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834consumed usכִּלָּ֔נוּki.La.nuH3615andוַאֲשֶׁ֖רva.'a.SherH834plottedדִּמָּה־di.mah-H1819against usto exterminate usנִשְׁמַ֕דְנוּnish.Mad.nuH8045from existingמֵֽהִתְיַצֵּ֖בme.hit.ya.TzevH3320within anyבְּכָל־be.kholH3605borderגְּבֻ֥לge.VulH1366of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478,

6let sevenשִׁבְעָ֤ה אֲנָשִׁים֙shiv.'Ah 'a.na.ShimH7651 H582of his male descendantsמִבָּנָ֔יוmi.ba.NavH1121be deliveredיֻתַּןye.na.ton-H5414to usso that we may hang themוְהוֹקַֽעֲנוּם֙ve.ho.ka.'a.NumH3363before the LORDלַֽיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehH3068at Gibeahבְּגִבְעַ֥תbe.giv.'AtH1390of Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586,the chosenבְּחִ֣ירbe.ChirH972of the LORDיְהוָ֑ה סYah.wehH3068.” “Iאֲנִ֥י'a.NiH589will give them to youאֶתֵּֽן׃'e.TenH5414,”saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428.

7Now the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428sparedוַיַּחְמֹ֣ל עַל־vai.yach.Mol 'al-H2550 H5921MephiboshethH4648sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֣ןye.ho.na.TanH3083,the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Saulשָׁא֑וּלsha.'UlH7586,because ofעַל־'al-H5921the oathשְׁבֻעַ֤תshe.vu.'AtH7621before the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834betweenH996Davidדָּוִ֔דda.VidH1732andH996Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֥ןye.ho.na.TanH3083sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Saulשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlH7586.

8But the kingהַמֶּ֡לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428אֶת־'e.toSh-H853tookוַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.KachH3947Armoniאַרְמֹנִ֖י'ar.mo.NiH764אֶת־'et-H853and Mephiboshethמְפִבֹ֑שֶׁתme.fi.Vo.shetH4648וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853,the twoשְׁ֠נֵיShe.neiH8147sonsבְּנֵ֨יbe.NeiH1121whomאֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834Rizpahרִצְפָּ֤הritz.PahH7532daughterבַת־vat-H1323of Aiahאַיָּה֙'ai.YahH345had borneיָלְדָ֣הYal.dahH3205to Saulלְשָׁא֔וּלle.sha.'UlH7586וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853,as well as the fiveחֲמֵ֗שֶׁתcha.Me.shetH2568sonsבְּנֵי֙be.NeiH1121whomאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834Merabמִיכַ֣לmi.KhalH4324daughterבַּת־bat-H1323of Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586had borneיָלְדָ֛הYal.dahH3205to Adrielלְעַדְרִיאֵ֥לle.'ad.ri.'ElH5741sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Barzillaiבַּרְזִלַּ֖יbar.zi.LaiH1271the Meholathiteהַמְּחֹלָתִֽי׃ha.me.cho.la.TiH4259.

9And he delivered themוַֽיִּתְּנֵ֞םvai.yi.te.NemH5414into the handsבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of the Gibeonitesהַגִּבְעֹנִ֗יםha.giv.'o.NimH1393,and they hanged themוַיֹּקִיעֻ֤םvai.yo.ki.'UmH3363on the hillבָּהָר֙ba.HarH2022beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068.So all seven of themH7659fellוַיִּפְּל֥וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307togetherיָ֑חַדYa.chadH3162;theyוְהֵ֨מָּהve.hemH1992were put to deathהֻמְת֜וּhum.TuH4191in the firstבָּרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔יםba.Ri.sho.NimH7223daysבִּימֵ֤יbi.MeiH3117of the harvestקָצִיר֙ka.TzirH7105,at the beginningבִּתְחִלַּ֖תbi.te.chi.latH8462of the barleyשְׂעֹרִֽים׃se.'o.RimH8184harvestקְצִ֥ירke.TzirH7105.

10And Rizpahרִצְפָּה֩ritz.PahH7532the daughterבַת־vat-H1323of Aiahאַיָּ֨ה'ai.YahH345אֶת־'et-H853tookוַתִּקַּ֣חva.ti.KachH3947sackclothהַשַּׂ֜קha.SakH8242and spread it outוַתַּטֵּ֨הוּva.ta.Te.huH5186for herselfonאֶל־'el-H413a rockהַצּוּר֙ha.TzurH6697.From the beginningמִתְּחִלַּ֣תmi.te.chi.LatH8462of the harvestקָצִ֔ירka.TzirH7105untilעַ֛ד'adH5704the rainמַ֥יִםMa.yimH4325from heavenהַשָּׁמָ֑יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064poured downנִתַּךְ־ni.takh-H5413on the bodiesעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם'a.lei.HemH5921מִן־min-H4480,she did not allowוְלֹֽא־ נָתְנָה֩ve.lo'- na.te.NahH5414 H3808the birdsע֨וֹףofH5775of the airהַשָּׁמַ֜יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064to restלָנ֤וּחַla.Nu.achH5117on themעֲלֵיהֶם֙'a.lei.HemH5921by dayיוֹמָ֔םyo.MamH3119,norוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853the beastsחַיַּ֥תchai.YatH2416of the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֖הha.sa.DehH7704by nightלָֽיְלָה׃La.ye.lahH3915.

11When Davidלְדָוִ֑דle.da.VidH1732was toldוַיֻּגַּ֖דvai.yu.GadH5046אֵ֧ת'etH853whatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Saul’sשָׁאֽוּל׃sha.'UlH7586concubineפִּלֶ֥גֶשׁpi.Le.geshH6370Rizpahרִצְפָּ֥הritz.PahH7532,daughterבַת־vat-H1323of Aiahאַיָּ֖ה'ai.YahH345,had doneעָשְׂתָ֛ה'a.se.TahH6213,

12heדָּוִ֗דda.VidH1732wentוַיֵּ֣לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhH1980and tookוַיִּקַּ֞חvai.yi.KachH3947אֶת־'et-H853the bonesעַצְמ֤וֹתatz.MotH6106of Saulשָׁאוּל֙sha.'UlH7586וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853עַצְמוֹת֙'atz.mOtH6106and his sonבְּנ֔וֹbe.NoH1121Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֣ןye.ho.na.TanH3083fromמֵאֵ֕תme.'EtH854the menבַּעֲלֵ֖יba.'a.LeiH1167of Jabesh-gileadיָבֵ֣ישׁ גִּלְעָ֑דya.Veish gil.'AdH3003 H1568, whoאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834had stolenגָּנְב֨וּga.ne.VuH1589themאֹתָ֜ם'o.TamH853from the public squareמֵרְחֹ֣בme.re.ChoH7339of Beth-shanH1052whereאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםha.pe.lish.timH6430had hungשָׁ֙מָּה֙sham.hH8518 H8033the bodiesafterבְּי֨וֹםbe.YomH3117theyפְּלִשְׁתִּ֛יםpe.lish.TimH6430אֶת־'et-H853had struck downהַכּ֧וֹתha.KotH5221Saulשָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlH7586at Gilboaבַּגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃ba.gil.Bo.a'H1533.

13So David hadthe bonesעַצְמ֣וֹתatz.MotH6106of Saulשָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlH7586andאֶת־'et-H853עַצְמ֖וֹתatz.MotH6106his sonבְּנ֑וֹbe.NoH1121Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָ֣ןye.ho.na.TanH3083broughtוַיַּ֤עַלvai.Ya.'alH5927from thereמִשָּׁם֙mi.ShamH8033וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853,and they also gatheredוַיַּ֣אַסְפ֔וּvai.Ya.'as.FuH622אֶת־'et-H853the bonesעַצְמ֖וֹתatz.MotH6106of those who had been hangedהַמּוּקָעִֽים׃ha.mu.ka.'ImH3363.

14And they buriedוַיִּקְבְּר֣וּvai.yik.be.RuH6912אֶת־'et-H853the bonesעַצְמוֹת־'atz.mot-H6106of Saulשָׁא֣וּלsha.'UlH7586and his sonבְּ֠נוֹbe.noH1121Jonathanוִיהוֹנָֽתָן־vi.ho.na.ton-H3083in Zelaבְּצֵלָ֗עbe.tze.La'H6762in the landבְּאֶ֨רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֜ןbin.ya.MinH1144,in the tombבְּקֶ֙בֶר֙be.Ke.verH6913of Saul’s fatherאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1Kishקִ֣ישׁkishH7027.Afterאַֽחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei-H310כֵֽן׃ פKhenH3651they had doneוַֽיַּעֲשׂ֔וּvai.ya.'a.SuH6213everythingכֹּ֥לkolH3605אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834the kingהַמֶּ֑לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428had commandedצִוָּ֖הtzi.VahH6680,Godאֱלֹהִ֛ים'E.lo.HimH430answered their prayersוַיֵּעָתֵ֧רvai.ye.'a.TerH6279for the landלָאָ֖רֶץla.'A.retzH776.

Four Battles against the Philistines

(1 Chronicles 20:4–8)

15Once againוַתְּהִי־ ע֧וֹדva.te.hi- odH5750 H1961the Philistinesלַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםla.pe.lish.TimH6430waged warמִלְחָמָ֛הmil.cha.MahH4421againstאֶת־'et-H854Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,and Davidדָּוִ֜דda.VidH1732and his servantsוַעֲבָדָ֥יו עִמּ֛וֹva.'a.va.Dav i.MoH5650 H5973went downוַיֵּ֨רֶדvai.Ye.redH3381and foughtוַיִּלָּחֲמ֥וּvai.yi.la.cha.MuH3898againstאֶת־'et-H854the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםpe.lish.TimH6430.But Davidדָּוִֽד׃da.VidH1732became exhaustedוַיָּ֥עַףvai.Ya.'afH5888.

16Then Ishbi-benobH3430אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀'a.SherH834,a descendantבִּילִידֵ֣יbi.li.DeiH3211of Raphaהָרָפָ֗הha.ra.FahH7497,whose bronzeנְחֹ֔שֶׁתne.Cho.shetH5178spearקֵינוֹ֙kei.NoH7013weighedוּמִשְׁקַ֤לu.mish.KalH4948threeשְׁלֹ֤שׁshe.LoshH7969hundredמֵאוֹת֙me.'OtH3967shekelsמִשְׁקַ֣לmish.KalH4948and whoוְה֖וּאve.Hu'H1931was bearingחָג֣וּרcha.GurH2296a newחֲדָשָׁ֑הcha.da.ShahH2319sword,resolvedוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to killלְהַכּ֥וֹתle.ha.KotH5221אֶת־'et-H853Davidדָּוִֽד׃da.VidH1732.

17But Abishaiאֲבִישַׁ֣י'a.vi.ShaiH52sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Zeruiahצְרוּיָ֔הtze.ru.YahH6870came to his aidוַיַּֽעֲזָר־vai.ya.'a.zor-H5826,struckוַיַּ֥ךְvai.YakhH5221אֶת־'et-H853the Philistineהַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יha.pe.lish.TiH6430,and killed himוַיְמִיתֵ֑הוּvay.mi.Te.huH4191.Thenאָ֣ז'azH227David’sדָוִ֨דda.VidH1732menאַנְשֵׁי־'an.shei-H582sworeנִשְׁבְּעוּ֩nish.be.'UH7650to himלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559, “You must neverלֹא־lo'-H3808againע֤וֹדodH5750go outתֵצֵ֨אte.Tze'H3318with usאִתָּ֙נוּ֙'i.Ta.nuH854to battleלַמִּלְחָמָ֔הla.mil.cha.MahH4421,so that the lampנֵ֥רnerH5216of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ פYis.ra.'ElH3478may notוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808be extinguishedתְכַבֶּ֖הte.kha.BehH3518אֶת־'et-H853.”

18Some time laterוַֽיְהִי֙ אַֽחֲרֵי־ כֵ֔ןvay.Hi 'a.cha.rei- KhenH310 H3651 H1961at Gobבְּג֖וֹבbe.GovH1359,there wasוַתְּהִי־va.te.hi-H1961anotherע֧וֹדodH5750battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֛הha.mil.cha.MahH4421withעִם־'im-H5973the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430.At that timeאָ֣ז'azH227Sibbecaiסִבְּכַי֙si.be.KhaiH5444the Hushathiteהַחֻ֣שָׁתִ֔יha.Chu.sha.TiH2843אֶת־'et-H853killedהִכָּ֗הhi.KahH5221Saphסַ֕ףsafH5593,aאֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.SherH834descendantבִּילִדֵ֥יbi.li.DeiH3211of Raphaהָרָפָֽה׃ פha.ra.FahH7497.

19Once againע֧וֹדodH5750there wasוַתְּהִי־va.te.hi-H1961a battleהַמִּלְחָמָ֛הha.mil.cha.MahH4421withעִם־'im-H5973the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑יםpe.lish.TimH6430at Gobבְּג֖וֹבbe.GovH1359,and Elhananאֶלְחָנָן֩'el.cha.NanH445sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of JairH3296the BethlehemiteH1022אֵ֚ת'etH853killedוַיַּ֡ךְvai.YakhH5221the brother ofGoliathגָּלְיָ֣תgal.YatH1555the Gittiteהַגִּתִּ֔יha.gi.TiH1663,the shaftוְעֵ֣ץve.'EtzH6086of whose spearחֲנִית֔וֹcha.ni.ToH2595was like a weaver’sאֹרְגִֽים׃ ס'o.re.GimH707beamכִּמְנ֖וֹרkim.NorH4500.

20And there wasוַתְּהִי־va.te.hi-H1961alsoע֥וֹדodH5750a battleמִלְחָמָ֖הmil.cha.MahH4421at Gathבְּגַ֑תbe.GatH1661,where there was a manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of great statureH4060withוַיְהִ֣י׀vay.HiH1961sixשֵׁ֣שׁsheshH8337fingersוְאֶצְבְּעֹ֣תve.'etz.be.'OtH676on each handיָדָיו֩ya.DavH3027and sixוָשֵׁ֗שׁva.SheshH8337toesוְאֶצְבְּעֹ֨תve.'etz.be.'OtH676on each footרַגְלָ֜יוrag.LavH7272—twenty-fourעֶשְׂרִ֤ים וְאַרְבַּע֙'es.Rim ve.'ar.Ba'H6242 H702in allמִסְפָּ֔רmis.ParH4557.Heה֖וּאhu'H1931tooוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571was descendedיֻלַּ֥דyu.LadH3205from Raphaלְהָרָפָֽה׃le.ha.ra.FahH7497,

21and when he tauntedוַיְחָרֵ֖ףvay.cha.RefH2778אֶת־'et-H853Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,Jonathanיְה֣וֹנָתָ֔ןye.Ho.na.TanH3083the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of David’sדָוִֽד׃da.VidH1732brotherאֲחִ֥י'a.ChiH251ShimeiH8096killed himוַיַּכֵּ֙הוּ֙vai.ya.Ke.huH5221.

22אֶת־'et-H853So theseאֵ֛לֶּה'E.lehH428fourאַרְבַּ֥עַת'ar.Ba.'atH702descendantsיֻלְּד֥וּyu.le.DuH3205of Raphaלְהָרָפָ֖הle.ha.ra.FahH7497in Gathבְּגַ֑תbe.GatH1661fellוַיִּפְּל֥וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307at the handsבְיַד־ve.yad-H3027of Davidדָּוִ֖ד וּבְיַ֥דda.Vid u.ve.YadH1732 H3027and his servantsעֲבָדָֽיו׃ פ'a.va.DavH5650.

Four Battles against the Philistines

(1 Chronicles 20:4–8)

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 21