2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 21:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

And gave them into the hands of the Gabaonites: and they crucified them on a hill before the Lord: and these seven died together in the first days of the harvest, when the barley began to be reaped.
Douay-Rheims

וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֞ם בְּיַ֣ד הַגִּבְעֹנִ֗ים וַיֹּקִיעֻ֤ם בָּהָר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּפְּל֥וּ שבעתים שְׁבַעְתָּ֖ם יָ֑חַד והם וְהֵ֨מָּה הֻמְת֜וּ בִּימֵ֤י קָצִיר֙ בָּרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים תחלת בִּתְחִלַּ֖ת קְצִ֥יר שְׂעֹרִֽים׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

Following these conflicts, a famine struck the entire land, prompting David to act in a way that would bring an end to this calamity. To do so, he felt compelled to turn over the descendants of Saul for execution, as it was divinely ordained; "for the sake of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he had slain the Gabaonites" (2 Sam. 21:1). Those who recall David's deep sorrow for Saul will comprehend the weight of his suffering as he surrendered his offspring to the Gabaonites; yet, he bore this burden.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.