2 Samuel 21:8-22 ▼

8 But 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] daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel (flock of God) son of Barzillai (my iron) the Meholathite.

9 And 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.

10 And 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.

11 When David (beloved) was told what Saul’s (desired) concubine Rizpah (pavement), daughter of Aiah (falcon), had done,

12 he (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).

13 So 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.

14 And 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.

15 Once 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.

16 Then Ishbi-benob (his dwelling is in Nob), a descendant of Rapha (the giant), whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels <7.5 lb / 3.4 kg> and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David (beloved).

17 But 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.”

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

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

20 And 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,

21 and when he taunted Israel (he wrestles with God), Jonathan (YHWH has given) the son of David’s (beloved) brother Shimei (Shimea) killed him.

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