2Sa 21:7-10 | MHM | STEP | v. 7-10 : The executions were done during the harvest season to show that the famine and lack of crops were connected to God’s anger. This was a solemn reminder that sin must be punished and justice done before God’s blessing can return. David’s careful handling of the situation showed his respect for God’s law and the seriousness of Saul’s broken covenant. It also warns us that the sins of parents can affect their children, and that God’s justice is deep and far-reaching (2 Samuel 21:7-10 ).

‏ 2 Samuel 21:7-10

v. 7-10: The executions were done during the harvest season to show that the famine and lack of crops were connected to God’s anger. This was a solemn reminder that sin must be punished and justice done before God’s blessing can return. David’s careful handling of the situation showed his respect for God’s law and the seriousness of Saul’s broken covenant. It also warns us that the sins of parents can affect their children, and that God’s justice is deep and far-reaching (2 Samuel 21:7-10 ^a).

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The Death of Saul's Sons

This section describes what happened to the sons and grandsons of Saul who were handed over to the Gibeonites. Their deaths were a public sacrifice meant to stop God’s judgment on Israel. It also tells about Rizpah, the mother of two of the men, and how she showed love and grief for her sons, and ends with their proper burial after God’s anger was turned away.

v. 10: Saul’s sons were not only executed, but their bodies were left hanging in public until rain came to end the famine. This was a sign that their deaths were a sacrifice to turn away God’s anger. Their bodies were exposed, showing that they carried the curse of their father’s sin. In normal cases, the law said that hanged bodies should be buried on the same day (Deuteronomy 21:23 ^b). But this was an unusual situation. Their deaths were not just a punishment for crime, but a way to save the nation from famine. They became, in a way, a warning for everyone who saw them, just as the apostle Paul wrote, we have been made a spectacle to the world (1 Corinthians 4:9, 13 ^c).

Rizpah, the mother of two of the executed men, watched over their bodies. She could not bury her sons, but she stayed near them to protect them from birds and wild animals. Rizpah set up a tent of sackcloth and kept watch until the famine ended and rain fell. This was a sad time for her, as she saw her sons die not for their own sin, but because of their father Saul’s actions (2 Samuel 21:10 ^d). She showed deep love and loyalty, making sure her sons were respected even after death. She did not try to break the law or take their bodies down, but she honored them by her presence and care.