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2 Samuel 21
Common English Bible

Avenging the Gibeonites

21 There was a famine for three years in a row during David’s rule. David asked the Lord about this, and the Lord said, “It is caused by Saul and his household, who are guilty of bloodshed because he killed the people of Gibeon.” 2 So the king called for the Gibeonites and spoke to them.

(Now the Gibeonites weren’t Israelites but were survivors of the Amorites. The Israelites had sworn a solemn pledge to spare them, but Saul tried to eliminate them in his enthusiasm for the people of Israel and Judah.)

3 David said to the Gibeonites, “What can I do for you? How can I fix matters so you can benefit from the Lord’s inheritance?”

4 The Gibeonites said to him, “We don’t want any silver or gold from Saul or his family, and it isn’t our right to have anyone in Israel killed.”

“What do you want?”[a] David asked. “I’ll do it for you.”

5 “Okay then,” they said to the king. “That man who opposed and oppressed[b] us, who planned to destroy us, keeping us from having a place to live anywhere in Israel— 6 hand over seven of his sons to us, and we will hang them before the Lord at Gibeon[c] on the Lord’s mountain.”

“I will hand them over,” the king said.

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson, because of the Lord’s solemn pledge that was between them—between David and Saul’s son Jonathan. 8 So the king took the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Armoni and Mephibosheth, whom she had birthed for Saul; and the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,[d] whom she birthed for Adriel, Barzillai’s son, who was from Meholah, 9 and he handed them over to the Gibeonites. They hanged them on the mountain before the Lord. The seven of them died at the same time. They were executed in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

10 Aiah’s daughter Rizpah took funeral clothing and spread it out by herself on a rock. She stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until the rains poured down on the bodies from the sky, and she wouldn’t let any birds of prey land on the bodies during the day or let wild animals come at nighttime. 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s secondary wife, had done, 12 he went and retrieved the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen the bones from the public square in Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them on the day the Philistines killed Saul at Gilboa. 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there and collected the bones of the men who had been hanged by the Gibeonites. 14 The bones of Saul and his son Jonathan were then buried in Zela, in Benjaminite territory, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. Once everything the king had commanded was done, God responded to prayers for the land.

War with the Philistines

15 Once again war broke out between the Philistines and Israel. David and the soldiers who were with him went down and fought the Philistines. When David grew tired, 16 Ishbi-benob, a descendant of the Raphah,[e] planned on killing David.[f] The weight of his spear was three hundred shekels of bronze, and he was wearing new armor. 17 But Zeruiah’s son Abishai came to David’s aid, striking the Philistine down and killing him. Then David’s men swore a solemn pledge to him: “You will never march out to battle with us again! You must not snuff out Israel’s lamp!”

18 Some time later, another battle with the Philistines took place at Gob. Then Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, a descendant of the Raphah. 19 There was yet another battle with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan, Jair’s son[g] from Bethlehem, killed Goliath from Gath, whose spear shaft was as strong as the bar on a weaver’s loom. 20 In another battle at Gath, there was a huge[h] man who had six fingers on his hands and six toes on his feet, twenty-four in all. He too was descended from the Raphah. 21 When he insulted Israel, Jonathan, who was the son of David’s brother Shimei, killed him. 22 These four Philistines were descended from the Raphah in Gath, and they fell by the hands of David and his servants.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 21:4 LXXL, OL; MT What are you saying?
  2. 2 Samuel 21:5 LXXB; MT annihilated us
  3. 2 Samuel 21:6 Correction; cf LXX and 21:9; MT at Gibeah of Saul, the Lord’s chosen one
  4. 2 Samuel 21:8 LXXLN; MT Michal (but cf 2 Sam 6:23)
  5. 2 Samuel 21:16 Or giants; also in 21:18, 20, 22
  6. 2 Samuel 21:16 LXX Joash’s son Dodo, a descendant of the Raphah (see previous note), captured David.
  7. 2 Samuel 21:19 See 1 Chron 20:5, LXXLMN (cf 2 Sam 23:24); Heb Jaare-oregim.
  8. 2 Samuel 21:20 See 1 Chron 20:6; MT a Midianite or a combative man.
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2 Samuele 21
Nuova Riveduta 2006

I Gabaoniti vendicati

21 (A)Al tempo di Davide ci fu una carestia per tre anni continui. Davide cercò il volto del Signore, e il Signore gli disse: «C’è un debito di sangue che pende su Saul e sulla sua casa, perché egli fece perire i Gabaoniti». 2 Allora il re chiamò i Gabaoniti e parlò loro. I Gabaoniti non facevano parte dei figli d’Israele, ma erano un residuo degli Amorei; i figli d’Israele si erano legati a loro per giuramento; tuttavia Saul, nel suo zelo per i figli d’Israele e di Giuda, aveva cercato di sterminarli. 3 Davide disse ai Gabaoniti: «Che cosa devo fare per voi e in che modo posso espiare il torto fattovi, perché voi benediciate l’eredità del Signore?» 4 I Gabaoniti gli risposero: «Tra noi e Saul e la sua casa non è questione d’argento o d’oro; e non spetta a noi far morire gente d’Israele». Il re disse: «Che cosa volete dunque che io faccia per voi?» 5 Essi risposero al re: «Poiché quell’uomo ci ha consumati e aveva programmato di sterminarci per farci sparire da tutto il territorio d’Israele, 6 consegnateci sette uomini tra i suoi figli e noi li impiccheremo davanti al Signore a Ghibea di Saul, l’eletto del Signore». Il re disse: «Ve li consegnerò».

7 Il re risparmiò Mefiboset, figlio di Gionatan, figlio di Saul, a causa del giuramento che Davide e Gionatan, figlio di Saul, avevano fatto tra di loro davanti al Signore; 8 ma il re prese i due figli che Rispa, figlia di Aia, aveva partoriti a Saul, Armoni e Mefiboset, e i cinque figli che Merab[a], figlia di Saul, aveva partoriti ad Adriel di Meola, figlio di Barzillai, 9 e li consegnò ai Gabaoniti, che li impiccarono sul monte, davanti al Signore. Tutti e sette perirono assieme; furono messi a morte nei primi giorni della mietitura, quando si iniziava a mietere l’orzo.

10 Rispa, figlia di Aia, prese un cilicio, lo stese sulla roccia e stette là dal principio della mietitura fino a che l’acqua non cadde dal cielo sui cadaveri; lei impedì agli uccelli del cielo di posarsi su di essi di giorno e alle bestie selvatiche di avvicinarsi di notte. 11 Fu riferito a Davide quello che Rispa, figlia di Aia, concubina di Saul, aveva fatto. 12 Davide andò a prendere le ossa di Saul e quelle di Gionatan suo figlio presso gli abitanti di Iabes di Galaad, i quali le avevano portate via dalla piazza di Bet-San, dove i Filistei avevano appeso i cadaveri quando avevano sconfitto Saul sul Ghilboa. 13 Egli riportò di là le ossa di Saul e quelle di Gionatan suo figlio; e anche le ossa di quelli che erano stati impiccati furono raccolte. 14 Le ossa di Saul e di Gionatan suo figlio furono sepolte nel paese di Beniamino, a Sela, nella tomba di Chis, padre di Saul; fu fatto tutto quello che il re aveva ordinato. Dopo questo, Dio fu placato verso il paese.

Ultime imprese contro i Filistei

15 (B)Ci fu di nuovo guerra tra i Filistei e gli Israeliti. E Davide scese con la sua gente a combattere contro i Filistei. Davide era stanco 16 e Isbi-Benob, uno dei discendenti di Rafa[b], che aveva una lancia di bronzo del peso di trecento sicli[c] e portava un’armatura nuova, manifestò il proposito di uccidere Davide; 17 ma Abisai, figlio di Seruia, venne in soccorso al re, colpì il Filisteo e lo uccise. Allora la gente di Davide gli fece questo giuramento: «Tu non uscirai più con noi a combattere ed eviterai che si spenga la lampada d’Israele».

18 Dopo questo ci fu un’altra battaglia con i Filistei, a Gob; allora Sibecai il Cusatita uccise Saf, uno dei discendenti di Rafa.

19 Ci fu di nuovo battaglia con i Filistei a Gob; ed Elcanan, figlio di Iaare-Oreghim di Betlemme, uccise Goliat di Gat, che aveva una lancia robusta come un subbio da tessitore.

20 Ci fu un’altra battaglia a Gat, dove si trovò un uomo di grande statura, che aveva sei dita in ciascuna mano e in ciascun piede, in tutto ventiquattro dita, e che era egli pure dei discendenti di Rafa. 21 Egli insultò Israele, e Gionatan, figlio di Simea, fratello di Davide, l’uccise.

22 Questi quattro uomini erano nati a Gat, della stirpe di Rafa. Essi perirono per mano di Davide e per mano della sua gente.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuele 21:8 Merab, l’ebr. dice: Mical, ma dev’essere un errore di copista. Cfr. 1 S 18:19.
  2. 2 Samuele 21:16 Rafa, i discendenti di Rafa o Refaim erano una stirpe di giganti.
  3. 2 Samuele 21:16 Trecento sicli, circa tre chili.
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2 Samuel 21
New International Version

The Gibeonites Avenged

21 During the reign of David, there was a famine(A) for three successive years; so David sought(B) the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

2 The king summoned the Gibeonites(C) and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) 3 David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?”(D)

4 The Gibeonites answered him, “We have no right to demand silver or gold from Saul or his family, nor do we have the right to put anyone in Israel to death.”(E)

“What do you want me to do for you?” David asked.

5 They answered the king, “As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel, 6 let seven of his male descendants be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed(F) before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen(G) one.”

So the king said, “I will give them to you.”

7 The king spared Mephibosheth(H) son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath(I) before the Lord between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah’s daughter Rizpah,(J) whom she had borne to Saul, together with the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,[a] whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.(K) 9 He handed them over to the Gibeonites, who killed them and exposed their bodies on a hill before the Lord. All seven of them fell together; they were put to death(L) during the first days of the harvest, just as the barley harvest was beginning.(M)

10 Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night.(N) 11 When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, 12 he went and took the bones of Saul(O) and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead.(P) (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan,(Q) where the Philistines had hung(R) them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.)(S) 13 David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.

14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela(T) in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that,(U) God answered prayer(V) in behalf of the land.(W)

Wars Against the Philistines(X)

15 Once again there was a battle between the Philistines(Y) and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. 16 And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels[b] and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. 17 But Abishai(Z) son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp(AA) of Israel will not be extinguished.(AB)”

18 In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob. At that time Sibbekai(AC) the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.

19 In another battle with the Philistines at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair[c] the Bethlehemite killed the brother of[d] Goliath the Gittite,(AD) who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver’s rod.(AE)

20 In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. 21 When he taunted(AF) Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah,(AG) David’s brother, killed him.

22 These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 21:8 Two Hebrew manuscripts, some Septuagint manuscripts and Syriac (see also 1 Samuel 18:19); most Hebrew and Septuagint manuscripts Michal
  2. 2 Samuel 21:16 That is, about 7 1/2 pounds or about 3.5 kilograms
  3. 2 Samuel 21:19 See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew Jaare-Oregim.
  4. 2 Samuel 21:19 See 1 Chron. 20:5; Hebrew does not have the brother of.
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2 Samuel 21
American Standard Version

21 And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites. 2 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 for the children of Israel and Judah); 3 and David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of Jehovah? 4 And the Gibeonites said unto him, It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; [a]neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. 5 And they said unto the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us, [b]that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel, 6 let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto Jehovah in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Jehovah. And the king said, I will give them.

7 But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 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 [c]Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bare to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Jehovah, and they fell all seven together. And they were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.

10 And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured upon them from heaven; and she suffered neither the birds of the heavens to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 11 And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

12 And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the [d]street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines slew Saul in Gilboa; 13 and he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. 14 And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.

15 And the Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. And David waxed faint; 16 and Ishbi-benob, who was of the sons of the [e]giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with [f]a new sword, thought to have slain David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the lamp of Israel.

18 And it came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at [g]Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew [h]Saph, who was of the sons of the [i]giant. 19 And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaare-oregim the Beth-lehemite slew [j]Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 20 And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the [k]giant. 21 And when he [l]defied Israel, Jonathan the son of [m]Shimei, David’s brother, slew him. 22 These four were born to the [n]giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 21:4 Or, neither for us shalt thou put any man to death in Israel
  2. 2 Samuel 21:5 Or, so that we have been destroyed
  3. 2 Samuel 21:8 In 1 Sam. 18:19, Merab.
  4. 2 Samuel 21:12 Or, broad place
  5. 2 Samuel 21:16 Hebrew Raphah.
  6. 2 Samuel 21:16 Or, new armor
  7. 2 Samuel 21:18 In 1 Chr. 20:4, Gezer.
  8. 2 Samuel 21:18 In 1 Chr. 20:4, Sippai.
  9. 2 Samuel 21:18 Hebrew Raphah.
  10. 2 Samuel 21:19 In 1 Chr. 20:5, the brother of Goliath.
  11. 2 Samuel 21:20 Hebrew Raphah.
  12. 2 Samuel 21:21 Or, reproached.
  13. 2 Samuel 21:21 In 1 Sam. 16:9, Shammah. In 1 Chr. 2:13; 20:7, Shimea
  14. 2 Samuel 21:22 Hebrew Raphah.
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