2 Samuel 21:14

And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.

And the bones {H6106} of Saul {H7586} and Jonathan {H3083} his son {H1121} buried {H6912} they in the country {H776} of Benjamin {H1144} in Zelah {H6762}, in the sepulchre {H6913} of Kish {H7027} his father {H1}: and they performed {H6213} all that the king {H4428} commanded {H6680}. And after {H310} that God {H430} was intreated {H6279} for the land {H776}.

Then they buried the bones of Sha'ul and Y'honatan his son in the territory of Binyamin in Tzela, in the tomb of Kish his father; they did everything the king ordered. Only after that was God prevailed on to show mercy to the land.

And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin, in the tomb of Saulโ€™s father Kish. After they had done everything the king had commanded, God answered their prayers for the land.

And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.

Commentary

2 Samuel 21:14 concludes a significant narrative arc concerning a three-year famine that afflicted Israel during King David's reign. This verse marks the resolution of the crisis, detailing the proper burial of King Saul and his son Jonathan, along with the bones of Saul's seven descendants who had been executed to atone for Saul's breaking of a covenant with the Gibeonites (mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:1).

Context

The preceding verses in 2 Samuel 21 reveal that the famine was a divine judgment for Saul's earlier actions against the Gibeonites, a people with whom Israel had made a solemn covenant (Joshua 9). To appease God and resolve the famine, David sought the Gibeonites' terms, which resulted in the execution of seven of Saul's male descendants. However, David's deep respect for Saul and Jonathan, especially Jonathan's loyalty and the covenant between them (1 Samuel 18:3), led him to ensure their remains, along with those of the executed men, were given a dignified burial. Saul and Jonathan had originally been buried in Jabesh-Gilead (1 Samuel 31:13) after their deaths on Mount Gilboa.

Key Themes

  • Honoring the Dead and Ancestral Ties: David's meticulous effort to gather and bury the bones of Saul, Jonathan, and the executed men in their ancestral sepulchre in Zelah, Benjamin, demonstrates a profound respect for the deceased and the significance of proper burial rites in ancient Israel. This act brought closure and honor to the royal line.
  • Divine Justice and Mercy: The core message is that after the wrong committed against the Gibeonites was addressed and proper reverence shown, "God was intreated for the land." This highlights God's responsiveness to human actions, whether in judgment for sin or in mercy when atonement and righteousness are pursued.
  • Righteous Leadership: David's actions showcase his character as a king who diligently sought God's will to resolve national distress, honored covenants, and demonstrated compassion even towards the family of his predecessor and former adversary. His leadership brought about reconciliation and healing for the nation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "God was intreated for the land" is key. The Hebrew word translated "intreated" (ื ึถืขึฐืชึผึทืจ, ne'tar) implies that God was successfully appealed to, or that He allowed Himself to be moved by prayer and the actions taken. It signifies a turning point where divine favor is restored, often after a period of affliction or judgment. It suggests that the actions taken by David โ€“ fulfilling the Gibeonites' demands and providing a proper burial โ€“ were acceptable to God, leading to the lifting of the famine.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us of several timeless principles:

  • Consequences of Unaddressed Sin: The famine's duration underscores that unresolved sin, even from a previous generation, can have lasting national consequences until it is properly addressed.
  • The Importance of Reconciliation: David's actions were not just about appeasing God but also about making amends with the Gibeonites and bringing spiritual and social reconciliation.
  • God's Responsiveness to Humility and Righteousness: Just as God was "intreated" for the land, He promises to hear and heal when His people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14). This verse serves as a powerful testament to God's readiness to restore blessing when His people act in accordance with His will and justice.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 24:25 (5 votes)

    And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

  • Joshua 18:28 (5 votes)

    And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which [is] Jerusalem, Gibeath, [and] Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This [is] the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

  • Joshua 7:26 (4 votes)

    And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.

  • Exodus 32:27 (2 votes)

    And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, [and] go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.

  • Exodus 32:29 (2 votes)

    For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.

  • Amos 7:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, [it was] the latter growth after the king's mowings.

  • Amos 7:6 (2 votes)

    The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.