Reading for June 1st

 Read 2 Samuel 21.1-14.In 21.1-14: The execution of Saul's heirs. In verses 1-2: The Gibeonites had a special treaty with Israel (Josh 9). This story assumes that the violation of that treaty brought divine wrath. The Bible nowhere recounts Saul's attempted extermination of the Gibeonites. In verse 3: The Lord's heritage is both the land and the people of Israel. In verse 4: This is a matter for blood vengeance but as resident aliens in Israel the Gibeonites do not have that right. In verses 5-9: It was typical for the founder of a new dynasty to annihilate the potential claimants from the previous dynasty. David does that here. Saul's alleged offense provides a religious legitimation for this political act. Only Merib-baal is spared (v. 7), probably because he was crippled and could not therefore be king though this may reflect David's affection for Jonathan. This story originally came before 9.1, in which David asks if anyone is left in Saul's house. The event took place early in David's reign over Israel. Sons (v. 6) may also include grandsons. Mephiboseth or Mephibaal in v. 8 is the proper reading. This was not Jonathan's son, Merib-baal, was spared. The barley harvest was in April-May. In verse 10: Rizpah was Saul's concubine. In verses 11-14: As a result of Rizpah's action, David tries to honor the memory of Saul and Jonathan. According to 1 Sam 31.12, the bones were burned. This is either a contradiction, or David gathered only their ashes. Comments or Questions.