“From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air touch them by day or the wild animals by night.”
2 Samuel 21:10b
Early in Joshua’s career, he made a hasty oath in the Lord’s name granting safety to the Gibeonites (see Joshua 9). Later, despite the treaty, King Saul tried to annihilate the Gibeonites and nearly succeeded.
Much later during David’s reign, a famine stretched over three successive years. David sought the Lord who said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death” (2 Samuel 21:1). So David agreed to the Gibeonites’ demand: the execution and exposure of seven male heirs of Saul, including the sons of Saul’s mistress, Rizpah.
With complete disregard, the victims were left exposed on a hillside. The grieving Rizpah posted a vigil, watching day and night over the decaying bodies of her two sons. Eventually, King David heard about her brave vigil in enemy territory and realized the wrong he’d done. He gathered up the bones of the seven victims along with the bones of Saul and Jonathan, placing them in the tomb of Saul’s father and bringing respect, honor and closure to her sons’ lives and to the house of Saul.
Much later during David’s reign, a famine stretched over three successive years. David sought the Lord who said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death” (2 Samuel 21:1). So David agreed to the Gibeonites’ demand: the execution and exposure of seven male heirs of Saul, including the sons of Saul’s mistress, Rizpah.
With complete disregard, the victims were left exposed on a hillside. The grieving Rizpah posted a vigil, watching day and night over the decaying bodies of her two sons. Eventually, King David heard about her brave vigil in enemy territory and realized the wrong he’d done. He gathered up the bones of the seven victims along with the bones of Saul and Jonathan, placing them in the tomb of Saul’s father and bringing respect, honor and closure to her sons’ lives and to the house of Saul.
Scripture Focus
2 Samuel 21:1-14
Insight
David’s kingdom certainly was not perfect. One ordinary citizen, Rizpah, reminds us that we are not condemned, forgotten, and left to decay because we have a Savior.
Bible In A Year
- Genesis 18-19
- Psalm 98
- Matthew 14-15
