What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 21:14? And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan • “And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan” highlights long-overdue honor for Israel’s first king and his faithful son. Earlier, the men of Jabesh-gilead had risked their lives to retrieve the bodies (1 Samuel 31:12-13; cf. 2 Samuel 2:4-5), but a full, peaceful burial still awaited. • Restoring dignity removes lingering shame (1 Samuel 1:11; 2 Samuel 1:23). • God values proper burial as an act of love and closure (Genesis 50:25-26; John 19:40-42). in Zela in the land of Benjamin • Placing the remains “in Zela in the land of Benjamin” returns Saul to his tribal inheritance (Joshua 18:21-28). • The tribe once torn by civil war (Judges 20) is shown mercy, underscoring that God’s plans for each tribe stand despite past failure (Romans 11:29). • David’s choice of Zela avoids political grandstanding in Jerusalem, letting reconciliation—not rivalry—take center stage (Proverbs 15:1). in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. • Using “the tomb of Saul’s father Kish” restores familial integrity (1 Samuel 10:21-26; 1 Chronicles 8:33). • Family tombs represented covenant continuity (Genesis 25:9-10). Returning Saul to his father’s resting place affirms God’s design for generational legacy (Exodus 20:12). • Honor toward predecessors prepares the way for national healing (Malachi 4:6). After they had done everything the king had commanded, • David’s obedience mirrors Israel’s obligation to God (Deuteronomy 27:1; John 14:15). • The narrative stresses completion: “everything” was carried out, from surrendering Saul’s descendants to securing burial space (2 Samuel 21:1-9). Obedience precedes blessing (Luke 11:28). • Civil authority, when aligned with God’s law, becomes a means of justice (Romans 13:1-4). God answered their prayers for the land. • Famine had plagued Israel for three years because Saul’s house broke a covenant with the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1). With restitution made, “God answered their prayers for the land”. • Divine response follows repentance and righteous action (2 Chronicles 7:14; James 5:16). • The phrase signals covenant restoration: rain and harvest reflect God’s renewed favor (Deuteronomy 28:12; Psalm 65:9-13). • The land’s healing underscores that unresolved sin affects communities, yet God delights in lifting curses when justice is embraced (Galatians 3:13). summary 2 Samuel 21:14 brings closure to the turmoil sparked by Saul’s broken covenant. Honoring Saul and Jonathan through proper burial in their ancestral tomb fulfills David’s obligation, demonstrates respect for lineage, and models obedience. Once justice is satisfied, God lifts the famine, showing that repentance, restitution, and reverence for His commands open the door for answered prayer and restored blessing. |
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