2 Samuel 21 Commentary
You would wish this chapter didn’t exist in the scripture. It’s a difficult chapter!
A couple of pointers are important. The first one is that the LORD revealed to Israel what the problem was, but never sanctioned the course of action. The revelation was that the three-year drought was a consequence of Israel’s failure to keep an oath.
Remember how Joshua’s Israel made an oath before the LORD not to harm the Gibeonites – Book of Joshua, Chapter 9.
King Saul broke the oath, and now Israel under King David suffered.
Secondly, note that David’s witchcraft-like solution didn’t help matters. It is only when David moved in to correct his own injustice that the LORD answered prayer.
David definitely doesn’t know what he is doing. Look at what he says, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?” David seems to have an understanding that the Gibeonites held the power to bless or curse Israel. Is he sure that making seven women widows and several children fatherless is an acceptable course of action before the LORD?
It is difficult to draw lines in this chapter. What we can easily see is that many, in fact, most decisions are not informed by scripture—the written word that was available at the time.
We can also see how David’s light glows or dims depending on his connection to the LORD. The lesson is for us and not David and his team. Even for the recorder at the palace, these events are past events, only recorded after they have happened. The inspired author would not compile and incorporate these events into the body we now call scripture until probably hundreds of years later. It’s a compilation meant for you and me.
What have we learned from this chapter?
Our proud hearts feel we only consult the LORD for impossible items. How wrong! The point seems to be that we must consult the LORD even when we feel powerful and capable of handling the situation.
The rest of the chapter chronicles David’s “total” victory over the Philistines. In a way, David is merely another Judge (albeit imperfect, like those before him) who is specially empowered to deliver Israel from her enemies. As expected, he ruled for 40 years (2 Samuel 5:5).
Check a couple of facts. Saul was anointed to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines. He failed. But David succeeded. Chapter 21 is the proof!
Who can derail the plans of the LORD? Human failures don’t seem to do too much damage to the grand plan of the LORD God!
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