And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

2 SAMUEL 21:11KJV
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2 Samuel 21:11 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 21:11 mean?

2 Samuel 21:11 reports that King David was informed about the actions of Rizpah, who was the daughter of Aiah and a concubine of Saul. The verse simply notes that someone brought news to David about what Rizpah had done.

The setting is during a difficult time in Israel, after a famine and the execution of Saul’s descendants. Rizpah had shown remarkable devotion by protecting the bodies of her sons from birds and animals. This verse marks the moment when her actions came to David’s attention, setting up his response in the following verses.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 21:11

  • "told" (נָגַד, nagad): This word means to make known or report. Its use here emphasizes that Rizpah’s actions were significant enough to be formally reported to the king, not just noticed in passing.
  • "Rizpah" (רִצְפָּה, ritspah): The name means "hot stone" or "glowing coal." Mentioning her by name and as "daughter of Aiah" (בַּת עָיָה, bat ayah) highlights her identity and lineage, which was important in the context of royal and tribal relationships.
  • "concubine" (פִּילֶגֶשׁ, pilegesh): This term refers to a woman of lower status than a wife but still part of the royal household. Stating her status explains her connection to Saul and why her actions mattered to David.

Why 2 Samuel 21:11 matters

  • The verse highlights Rizpah’s loyalty and grief, which moved David to act with compassion in the next verses.
  • It shows that even those with lower social status, like a concubine, could have a significant impact on the king’s decisions.
  • This moment connects personal suffering to national leadership, showing how individual acts can influence the course of events in Israel’s history.

Where else these words appear

“Rizpah” Hebrew H7532 · used in 4 verses

  • 2 Samuel 3:7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
  • 2 Samuel 21:8 But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
  • 2 Samuel 21:10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

“Aiah” Hebrew H345 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 36:24 And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.
  • 2 Samuel 3:7 And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
  • 2 Samuel 21:10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

“concubine” Hebrew H6370 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 22:24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
  • Judges 19:27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.
  • 2 Samuel 20:3 And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.