2Sa 21:2-9 | TNotes | STEP | 21:2 Though the Amorites were a specific people group (Gen 10:16 ), here it is a general term for the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan. • When properly directed, zeal is commendable (e.g., Num 25:11 ; 1 Kgs 19:10 ). Saul’s misdirected zeal, however, involved blatant disregard for Israel’s covenant with the Gibeonites.

21:2 ^a Though the Amorites were a specific people group (Gen 10:16 ^b), here it is a general term for the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Canaan.

• When properly directed, zeal is commendable (e.g., Num 25:11 ^c; 1 Kgs 19:10 ^d). Saul’s misdirected zeal, however, involved blatant disregard for Israel’s covenant with the Gibeonites.
21:3 ^e Saul’s actions had caused the Gibeonites to curse Israel (cp. Rom 2:24 ^f); once David had made amends, the Gibeonites would bless the Lord’s people again.
21:6 ^g seven of Saul’s sons: Although the law codes of other ancient Near Eastern nations sometimes permitted members of a family to be punished for crimes a guilty individual had committed, Deut 24:16 ^h prohibited such punishment among the Israelites. This penalty was God’s prerogative alone (Deut 5:9 ⁱ). The few instances in the Bible when offspring were punished were not regular criminal cases. Rather, they involved offenses against God, such as violation of the kherem (the taboo on goods in wars of total destruction ordered by God; Josh 7:24-25 ^j) or of national oaths (as here).

• at Gibeon, on the mountain of the Lord: This probably refers to the high place at Gibeon that Solomon later visited (1 Kgs 3:3-4 ^k; 2 Chr 1:3 ^l). If the Hebrew reading is correct (see NLT note), the Gibeonites were sarcastically referring to Saul as “the chosen of the Lord.”
21:7 ^m the oath: See 1 Sam 20:14-15 ⁿ. In contrast to Saul, David was honoring his oath while dealing with the deadly fallout of Saul’s violation of an oath.
21:8 ^o Armoni and Mephibosheth were Saul’s only two remaining sons.

• Saul’s daughter Merab: See NLT note; the NLT follows the Greek here because Michal remained childless (6:22-23 ^p). Also, Merab was married to Adriel (1 Sam 18:19 ^q), whereas Michal’s other husband was Palti (2 Sam 3:15 ^r).

• Barzillai from Meholah (cp. 1 Sam 18:19 ^s) should not be confused with Barzillai of Gilead (2 Sam 19:31 ^t).
21:9 ^u The beginning of the barley harvest was in April.

• Before the Lord means “before the Lord’s altar” (see study note on 21:6).