And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto 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 unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)

2 SAMUEL 21:2KJV
truelightbible.com

2 Samuel 21:2 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 21:2 mean?

2 Samuel 21:2 explains that King David called the Gibeonites to speak with them because they were not Israelites but survivors of the Amorites, and Israel had made a sworn promise to protect them. However, Saul had tried to kill the Gibeonites out of his intense loyalty to Israel and Judah, breaking that promise.

In this verse, David is addressing a wrong done by Saul, who had acted against the Gibeonites despite Israel’s oath to them. The verse highlights the background: the Gibeonites’ non-Israelite origin, the binding nature of Israel’s oath, and Saul’s actions motivated by zeal for his own people. This sets the stage for David’s efforts to make things right and explains why the Gibeonites are involved in the story.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 21:2

  • "Zeal" (קָנָא, qana): This word means passionate jealousy or fervor. Here, it shows that Saul’s actions against the Gibeonites were not casual but driven by intense emotion for Israel and Judah.
  • "Sworn" (שָׁבַע, shava): This word refers to making a solemn oath. The verse emphasizes that Israel’s promise to the Gibeonites was a serious, binding commitment, not just a casual agreement.
  • "Remnant" (יֶתֶר, yether): This word means those left over or survivors. It clarifies that the Gibeonites were the remaining descendants of the Amorites, highlighting their vulnerable position.

Why 2 Samuel 21:2 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the Gibeonites were not Israelites, which is important for understanding the seriousness of Israel’s oath and the gravity of Saul’s violation.
  • It highlights Saul’s zeal as the motivation for his actions, showing that even well-intentioned passion can lead to wrongdoing if it breaks a sacred promise.
  • This background helps explain the cause of the famine described earlier in the chapter, connecting Saul’s actions to the consequences Israel is facing in David’s time.