Day 164 – 2 Samuel 21:10-14

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 21:10-14

"And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night."

(2 Samuel 21:10)

Rizpah is called "the daughter of Aiah." She had been Saul's concubine, and two of the men put to death were her sons. She takes sackcloth, which is connected with mourning and spreads a rough resting place in the open air near the bodies. She remained there "from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven" or until the returning rain. She watched through long days and nights until God sent rain again. She did not allow the birds to rest on them by day or the beasts of the field by night. That means she guarded the bodies from being devoured by scavengers. A heart after God learns that when we cannot fix everything, we should still be faithful in what we can do.

"And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done."

(2 Samuel 21:11)

Someone tells David what Rizpah has done. Her faithful grief speaks loud enough to reach the king. She is described again as "the concubine of Saul." She had no throne, no army, and no official voice in government, yet her devotion had honorable influence.

"And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:"

(2 Samuel 21:12)

In response to what Rizpah has done, David goes and retrieves the bones of Saul and Jonathan. After Saul and Jonathan died in battle, the Philistines fastened their bodies to the wall at Bethshan. The men of Jabeshgilead risked themselves to recover them. The word "stolen" here means they secretly took the bodies away. It was not theft in a wicked sense. It was a brave rescue from public shame. David honors Saul, even though Saul had hunted him. He honors Jonathan, whom he loved dearly. He does not allow the house of Saul to remain under public disgrace.

"And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged."

(2 Samuel 21:13)

David brings the bones of Saul and Jonathan, and he also gathers the bones of the seven men who had been hanged. The men who died under judgment are not left exposed forever. The bodies that Rizpah guarded are now gathered for burial.

"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."

(2 Samuel 21:14)

A sepulchre is a tomb or burial place. Kish was Saul's father, so in the sepulchre of Kish illuminates this was an ancestral burial place. "And after that God was intreated for the land." The word "intreated" means God was moved by prayer, supplication, or appeal. It means God heard and responded. The famine was lifted, and the land could receive mercy again.