II Samuel 21: More Bloodshed

The ancient world was a bloody, brutal place.

II Samuel 21 describes a time of famine during David's reign that lasted for three years.  When the king inquires of the Lord concerning its cause, he receives the answer that it is because of bloodguilt incurred by Saul against the Gibeonites.  (See Joshua 9 for a refresher on who were the Gibeonites).

To solve the problem, David summons a delegation of Gibeonites to ask how he can make things right with them and atone for Saul's murderous campaign against them.  The Gibeonites reply that they want satisfaction in blood from the house of Saul.  They ask for seven male heirs of Saul to be handed over to them to be "impaled before the Lord" (vs. 6).  David does as they ask, pointedly sparing Jonathan's son Mephibosheth from inclusion in the group.  The seven men David surrenders to the Gibeonites suffer a brutal death.  The scene sounds almost like a ritual of human sacrifice as it occurred on the first day of the barley harvest (vs. 9).  Afterwards, David takes the bones of those who had been impaled, along with the bones of Saul and Jonathan, and buries them in the tomb of Saul's father, Kish (vs. 14).

The last portion of this chapter details some of the warfare between the Philistines and the Israelites.  Four giants are mentioned (including one called Goliath the Gittite!).  Several Bethlehemites are mentioned as giant-killers (Abishai, Elhanan, and Jonathan).  When it comes to slaying physical and spiritual giants, I guess it's a good idea to keep an eye out on those born in Bethlehem!