Lexical Summary Ritspah: Rizpah Original Word: רִצְפָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Rizpah The same as ritspah; Ritspah, an Israelitess -- Rizpah. see HEBREW ritspah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as ritspah Definition concubine of Saul NASB Translation Rizpah (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. רִצְמָּה proper name, feminine concubine of Saul, 2 Samuel 3:7; 2 Samuel 21:8,10,11, Ρεσφα. רְצָפִים see רִצְמָּה. above Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Rizpah, whose name likely evokes the picture of a glowing coal or burning stone, is remembered as a concubine of King Saul and the devoted mother of two sons, Armoni and Mephibosheth. Although her appearances in Scripture are brief (2 Samuel 3:7; 21:8, 10, 11), her actions leave a lasting witness to covenant faithfulness, sacrificial love, and the power of righteous grief. Biblical Narrative 1. Political Intrigue (2 Samuel 3:7) After Saul’s death, Ish-Bosheth accused Abner of taking Rizpah, a move interpreted as a claim to Saul’s throne. The charge inflamed Abner’s anger, accelerating the transfer of loyalty from Ish-Bosheth to David. Rizpah’s status, therefore, sits at the very center of the political tension that ended the long struggle between the houses of Saul and David. 2. The Gibeonite Retribution (2 Samuel 21:1–14) Years later a three-year famine struck Israel “on account of Saul and his bloody house, because he had put the Gibeonites to death” (2 Samuel 21:1). To satisfy the covenant violated by Saul, David handed over seven male descendants of Saul to the Gibeonites. Among them were Rizpah’s sons, Armoni and Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 21:8). 3. A Mother’s Vigil (2 Samuel 21:10) “And Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on a rock, and from the beginning of the harvest until the autumn rains poured down from heaven on the bodies, she did not let the birds of the air rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night”. For roughly six months she kept watch, shooing predators away from the exposed corpses. Her silent protest highlighted the unfinished business of burial, exposing the shame attached to unburied dead in Israelite culture (Deuteronomy 21:22–23). 4. David’s Response (2 Samuel 21:11–14) When David heard what Rizpah had done, he gathered the bones of Saul and Jonathan and the executed sons, burying them honorably in the tomb of Kish. Only then does the text say, “After that, God answered prayer on behalf of the land” (2 Samuel 21:14). Rizpah’s relentless vigil becomes the turning point that ends the famine. Character and Virtues • Maternal Devotion: Rizpah’s love compelled her to face death, weather, and wild beasts. Her example shapes the biblical portrait of a mother’s intercessory heart. Theological Implications Covenant Justice and Mercy: The narrative intertwines divine justice for broken covenants (the Gibeonites) with mercy shown through proper burial. Rizpah’s act highlights that justice is incomplete until mercy is considered. Atonement Imagery: The hanging bodies satisfy covenant wrath, yet remain on display until covered. Her protective presence anticipates themes later fulfilled in Christ, who both satisfies divine justice and, through His burial and resurrection, removes shame from the redeemed. Intercession: Rizpah physically stands between curse and creation (birds and beasts), embodying the priestly calling to shield others from defilement. Historical Significance Rizpah’s account sheds light on ancient Near-Eastern customs about royal concubinage, succession claims, and burial rites. Possessing a deceased king’s concubine carried political symbolism; thus Abner’s alleged act was tantamount to a coup attempt. Her prolonged watch during the famine reveals Israel’s sensitivity to covenant breaches and the gravity of leaving the dead unburied. Ministry Application • Advocacy for the Helpless: Rizpah models steadfast advocacy for those who cannot speak for themselves. Later Jewish and Christian Reflection Jewish tradition venerates Rizpah as an archetype of mourning love. Patristic writers occasionally saw her vigil as a shadow of Mary at the cross—both mothers standing by the condemned, refusing to abandon them. Her account continues to inspire theological reflection on suffering, justice, and the transformative power of steadfast love. Forms and Transliterations רִצְפָּ֣ה רִצְפָּ֤ה רִצְפָּ֥ה רִצְפָּה֩ רצפה riṣ·pāh riṣpāh ritzPahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Samuel 3:7 HEB: פִּלֶ֔גֶשׁ וּשְׁמָ֖הּ רִצְפָּ֣ה בַת־ אַיָּ֑ה NAS: whose name was Rizpah, the daughter KJV: whose name [was] Rizpah, the daughter INT: concubine name was Rizpah the daughter of Aiah 2 Samuel 21:8 2 Samuel 21:10 2 Samuel 21:11 4 Occurrences |
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