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 21:8KJVWhat does 2 Samuel 21:8 mean?
2 Samuel 21:8 describes how King David took two sons of Rizpah, who had been Saul’s concubine, and five sons of Michal, Saul’s daughter, whom she had raised for Adriel, and delivered them to the Gibeonites. This action was part of David’s response to a famine, seeking to fulfill the Gibeonites’ demand for justice against Saul’s family.
In this verse, the king is David, and he is acting during a time of national crisis. The background is that Israel was experiencing a famine, and David learned it was because of Saul’s earlier violence against the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites asked for seven male descendants of Saul to be handed over for execution, and David selected these specific individuals, naming their mothers and family connections to Saul.
The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 21:8
- רִצְפָּה (Rizpah, "ritspah"): Her name means "hot stone" or "coal," and she is identified here as the mother of two of Saul’s sons. This highlights the personal cost and the family lines involved.
- מִיכַל (Michal, "mikhal"): Michal is called Saul’s daughter, but the verse notes she "brought up" (יָלַד, "yalad") five sons for Adriel. The Hebrew word often means "to bear" or "to give birth," but here it likely refers to raising or caring for the children, which can clarify confusion about her role.
- מְהוֹלָתִי (Meholathite, "meholathi"): This identifies Adriel as being from Meholah, anchoring the family’s background and showing the broader network of Saul’s descendants.
Why 2 Samuel 21:8 matters
- This verse helps clarify the relationships and lineage among Saul’s descendants, which can be confusing due to overlapping family ties and similar names in the narrative.
- The verse shows the seriousness with which ancient Israel treated issues of justice and atonement, especially when it came to national crises like famine.
- By naming the mothers and their connections, the verse emphasizes the personal and tragic consequences of Saul’s actions, setting the stage for Rizpah’s later mourning and the impact on Saul’s family.