2 Samuel 21:1

Read in context

2 Samuel 21:1–3 · Berean Standard Bible

1 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

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

3 So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Study 2 Samuel 21:1

Read the commentary on 2 Samuel 21

Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Genesis 12:10

Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

Genesis 26:1

Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.

Genesis 41:57

And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Genesis 42:1

When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

Genesis 43:1

Now the famine was still severe in the land.

Leviticus 26:19

I will break down your stubborn pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze,

Leviticus 26:20

and your strength will be spent in vain. For your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not bear their fruit.

Leviticus 26:26

When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied.

1 Kings 17:1

Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD lives—the God of Israel before whom I stand—there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!”

1 Kings 18:2

So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria,

2 Kings 6:25

So there was a great famine in Samaria. Indeed, they besieged the city so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter cab of dove’s dung sold for five shekels of silver.

2 Kings 8:1

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed a seven-year famine, and it has already come to the land.”

Jeremiah 14:1

This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:

Jeremiah 14:2

“Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 14:3

The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads.

Jeremiah 14:4

The ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.

Jeremiah 14:5

Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass.

Jeremiah 14:6

Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.”

Jeremiah 14:7

Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You.

Jeremiah 14:8

O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are You like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays but a night?

Jeremiah 14:9

Why are You like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? Yet You are among us, O LORD, and we are called by Your name. Do not forsake us!

Jeremiah 14:10

This is what the LORD says about this people: “Truly they love to wander; they have not restrained their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their guilt and call their sins to account.”

Jeremiah 14:11

Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people.

Jeremiah 14:12

Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.”

Jeremiah 14:13

“Ah, Lord GOD!” I replied, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’”

Jeremiah 14:14

“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Jeremiah 14:15

Therefore this is what the LORD says about the prophets who prophesy in My name: I did not send them, yet they say, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ By sword and famine these very prophets will meet their end!

Jeremiah 14:16

And the people to whom they prophesy will be thrown into the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword. There will be no one to bury them or their wives, their sons or their daughters. I will pour out their own evil upon them.

Jeremiah 14:17

You are to speak this word to them: ‘My eyes overflow with tears; day and night they do not cease, for the virgin daughter of my people has been shattered by a crushing blow, a severely grievous wound.

Jeremiah 14:18

If I go out to the country, I see those slain by the sword; if I enter the city, I see those ravaged by famine! For both prophet and priest travel to a land they do not know.’”

2 Samuel 5:19

So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

2 Samuel 5:23

So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

Numbers 27:21

He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

1 Samuel 23:2

So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”

1 Samuel 23:4

Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

1 Samuel 23:11

Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD.

Job 5:8

However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and lay my cause before Him—

Job 5:9

the One who does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.

Job 5:10

He gives rain to the earth and sends water upon the fields.

Job 10:2

I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

Psalms 50:15

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

Psalms 91:15

When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him.

Joshua 7:1

The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.

Joshua 7:11

Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.

Joshua 7:12

This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.

1 Samuel 22:17

Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

1 Samuel 22:18

So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

1 Samuel 22:19

He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep.