David Avenges the Gibeonites

1During the reign of David (beloved) there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD {YHWH}.

And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul (desired) and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites (little hill).”

2At this, David summoned the Gibeonites (little hill) and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites (God prevails), but a remnant of the Amorites (sayers). The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah (praised), Saul (desired) had sought to kill them.)

3So David (beloved) asked the Gibeonites (little hill), “What shall I do for you⁺? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD {YHWH}?”

4The Gibeonites (little hill) said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul (desired) or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel (he wrestles with God) for us.”

“Whatever you⁺ ask, I will do for you⁺,” he replied.

5And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel (he wrestles with God), 6let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them (expose them)a before the LORD {YHWH} at Gibeah (hill) of Saul (desired), the chosen of the LORD.”

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

7Now the king spared Mephibosheth (exterminating the idol) son of Jonathan (YHWH has given), the son of Saul (desired), because of the oath before the LORD {YHWH} between David (beloved) and Jonathan son of Saul. 8But the king took Armoni (one of the palace) and Mephibosheth (exterminating the idol), the two sons whom Rizpah (pavement) daughter of Aiah (falcon) had borne to Saul (desired), as well as the five sons whom Merab [Michal]b daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel (flock of God) son of Barzillai (my iron) the Meholathite. 9And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites (little hill), and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD {YHWH}. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

10And Rizpah (pavement) the daughter of Aiah (falcon) took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies, she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.

11When David (beloved) was told what Saul’s (desired) concubine Rizpah (pavement), daughter of Aiah (falcon), had done, 12he (beloved) went and took the bones of Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given) from the men of Jabesh-gilead (dry) (rocky region), who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan (house of ease) where the Philistines (immigrants) had hung the bodies after they had struck down Saul at Gilboa (swollen heap).

13So David had the bones of Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given) brought from there, and they also gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. 14And they buried the bones of Saul (desired) and his son Jonathan (YHWH has given) in Zela (a rib) in the land of Benjamin (son of the right hand), in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish (bent).

After they had done everything the king had commanded, God {Elohim} answered their prayers for the land.

Four Battles against the Philistines
(1 Chronicles 20:4–8)

15Once again the Philistines (immigrants) waged war against Israel (he wrestles with God), and David (beloved) and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines. But David became exhausted.

16Then Ishbi-benob (his dwelling is in Nob), a descendant of Rapha (the giant),c whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels <7.5 lb / 3.4 kg>d and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David (beloved). 17But Abishai (my father is a gift) son of Zeruiah (balsam) came to his aid, struck the Philistine (immigrants), and killed him.

Then David’s (beloved) men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel (he wrestles with God) may not be extinguished.”

18Some time later at Gob (cistern), there was another battle with the Philistines (immigrants). At that time Sibbecai (weaver) the Hushathite killed Saph (Sippai),e a descendant of Rapha.

19Once again there was a battle with the Philistines (immigrants) at Gob (cistern), and Elhanan (God has been gracious) son of Jair [Jaare-oregim]f the Bethlehemite (house of bread) killed the brother of Goliathg the Gittite (belonging to Gath), the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.

20And there was also a battle at Gath (winepress), where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, 21and when he taunted Israel (he wrestles with God), Jonathan (YHWH has given) the son of David’s (beloved) brother Shimei (Shimea)h killed him.

22So these four descendants of Rapha in Gath (winepress) fell at the hands of David (beloved) and his servants.