SEV Biblia, Chapter 21:1
¶ Y en los días de David hubo hambre por tres años consecutivos. Y David consultó al SEÑOR, y el SEÑOR le dijo: Es por Saúl, y por aquella casa de sangre; porque mató a los gabaonitas.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 21:1
Verse 1. Then there was a famine] Of this famine we know nothing; it is not mentioned in any part of the history of David. Because he slew the Gibeonites.] No such fact is mentioned in the life and transactions of Saul; nor is there any reference to it in any other part of Scripture.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 1. Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year , etc.] That is, three years running, one after another; some think this, though here related, was before the rebellions of Absalom and Sheba, and not after, and there are several things which may incline to it, as that the sin of Saul should otherwise be so long unpunished, and that the bones of Saul and Jonathan were not sooner removed, here related; and that there should be so many battles the Philistines after they were subdued, as recorded in this chapter; and in one of the Jewish writings it is said, that this was the year after Saul was slain; though, in other copies of the same book, it is said to be thirty years after; and so in that Abarbinel used, and who is of the mind that what is here related stands in the order in which it was, and of the same opinion are some of our best chronologers f349 : and David inquired of the Lord ; before the high priest by Urim and Thummim, what should be the cause of the famine perhaps suspecting it was some sins of his; the first year he might take no notice of it, hoping for a more fruitful season the next year, it arising, as he might suppose, from some natural cause; the second year he might begin to think it was for some national sins, but might be remiss in his inquiry into them; but the third year he was alarmed, and concluded there was something extraordinary and special, and feared it was on his account, and this put him on making inquiry: and the Lord answered, [it is] for Saul, and for [his] bloody house ; on account of the blood shed by him and his family; which answer must in a good measure relieve the mind of David, if he was fearful it was for his sins: because he slew the Gibeonites : which was contrary to the oath that Joshua and all Israel had given them not to slay them, but save them alive, ( Joshua 9:15). When this was done is not certain; the Jews commonly say that he slew them when he slew the priests at Nob, they being hewers of wood and drawers of water to them, and were slain with them; or because their maintenance depended on the priests, they being slain, it was in effect slaying them; but rather this refers to another time, and to other action or actions of Saul, who sought by various means to destroy these people, and root them out of the land. The Heathens had a notion that barrenness, unfruitfulness, and famine, were inflicted by God for murder. Philostratus reports of the Ethiopian Indians, that for the murder of their king, Ganges, their ground was unfruitful, their cattle starved, their wives abortive, and their cities and houses fell to ruin, until the murderers were destroyed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - Every affliction arises from sin, and should lead us to repent an humble ourselves before God; but some troubles especially show tha they are sent to bring sin to remembrance. God's judgments often look great way back, which requires us to do so, when we are under his rebukes. It is not for us to object against the people's smarting for the sin of their king; perhaps they helped him. Nor against thi generation suffering for the sin of the last. God often visits the sin of the fathers upon the children, and he gives no account of an matters. Time does not wear out the guilt of sin; nor can we buil hopes of escape upon the delay of judgments. If we cannot understan all the reasons of Providence in this matter, still we have no right to demand that God should acquaint us with those reasons. It must be right, because it is the will of God, and in the end it will be prove to be so. Money is no satisfaction for blood. It should seem, Saul' posterity trod in his steps, for it is called a bloody house. It wa the spirit of the family, therefore they are justly reckoned with for his sin, as well as for their own. The Gibeonites did not require thi out of malice against Saul or his family. It was not to gratify an revenge, but for the public good. They were put to death at the beginning of harvest; they were thus sacrificed to turn away the wrat of Almighty God, who had withheld the harvest-mercies for some year past, and to obtain his favour in the present harvest. In vain do we expect mercy from God, unless we do justice upon our sins. Execution must not be thought cruel, which are for the public welfare.
Original Hebrew
ויהי 1961 רעב 7458 בימי 3117 דוד 1732 שׁלשׁ 7969 שׁנים 8141 שׁנה 8141 אחרי 310 שׁנה 8141 ויבקשׁ 1245 דוד 1732 את 853 פני 6440 יהוה 3068 ויאמר 559 יהוה 3068 אל 413 שׁאול 7586 ואל 413 בית 1004 הדמים 1818 על 5921 אשׁר 834 המית 4191 את 853 הגבענים׃ 1393
