King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
Complete Jewish Bible:
David was told what Ritzpah the daughter of Ayah, the concubine of Sha'ul, had done.
Berean Standard Bible:
When David was told what Saul’s concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done,
American Standard Version:
And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And it was told{H5046} David{H1732} what Rizpah{H7532} the daughter{H1323} of Aiah{H345}, the concubine{H6370} of Saul{H7586}, had done{H6213}.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Samuel 2:4
- And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, [That] the men of Jabeshgilead [were they] that buried Saul.
Ruth 2:11
- And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and [how] thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.
Ruth 2:12
- The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 2 Samuel 21:11
2 Samuel 21:11 is a verse set within a broader narrative concerning a famine that afflicted the land of Israel during the reign of King David. This famine, which lasted for three years, was understood to be a divine punishment for the bloodguilt incurred by King Saul, who had broken a covenant with the Gibeonites. To appease the Lord and end the famine, David consulted with the Gibeonites, who were seeking retribution for Saul's actions. They requested that seven of Saul's descendants be handed over to them for execution.
In the verse in question, the focus is on Rizpah, a concubine of Saul, and the mother of two of the men who were given to the Gibeonites to be executed. The verse hints at an act of extraordinary loyalty and maternal love, as Rizpah took it upon herself to protect the bodies of her sons from being desecrated by animals and birds after their deaths. She spread sackcloth on a rock and stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until the rains came, warding off scavengers and showing her deep grief and devotion.
This act of Rizpah's is significant for several reasons. It demonstrates the personal cost of the political decisions made by David, as the execution of Saul's descendants was meant to restore the nation's favor with God. It also highlights the themes of loyalty, mourning, and the dignity of the dead. Rizpah's vigil is an act of resistance against the injustice she perceives and a silent protest that ultimately moves David to respond. In recognizing Rizpah's steadfastness, David is prompted to gather the bones of Saul and his sons, as well as the executed descendants, and give them an honorable burial, which finally brings the famine to an end.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the transition from the reign of Saul to that of David, and the lingering consequences of Saul's actions. It reflects the complexities of kingship in ancient Israel, where the actions of a king could have repercussions for the entire nation, and where the balance between justice and mercy was often delicate. Rizpah's story, though brief, serves as a powerful testament to the enduring strength of a mother's love and the importance of honoring the dead, even in the face of national crises and political necessities.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5046
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָגַד
Transliteration: nâgad
Pronunciation: naw-gad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise; bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: H1732
There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּוִד
Transliteration: Dâvid
Pronunciation: daw-veed'
Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David. - Strong's Number: H7532
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רִצְפָּה
Transliteration: Ritspâh
Pronunciation: rits-paw'
Description: the same as רִצְפָּה; Ritspah, an Israelitess; Rizpah. - Strong's Number: H1323
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּת
Transliteration: bath
Pronunciation: bath
Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. - Strong's Number: H345
There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַיָּה
Transliteration: ʼAyâh
Pronunciation: ah-yaw'
Description: the same as אַיָּה; Ajah, the name of two Israelites; Aiah, Ajah. - Strong's Number: H6370
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פִּילֶגֶשׁ
Transliteration: pîylegesh
Pronunciation: pee-leh'-ghesh
Description: or פִּלֶגֶשׁ; of uncertain derivation; a concubine; also (masculine) a paramour; concubine, paramour. - Strong's Number: H7586
There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁאוּל
Transliteration: Shâʼûwl
Pronunciation: shaw-ool'
Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul. - Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.