and David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? And with what should I make atonement, that you may bless Yahweh’s inheritance?”
Parallel translations
- KJV Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?
- BSB So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”
- NKJV Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?”
- NASB David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? And how can I make amends, so that you will bless the inheritance of the Lord?”
- NLT David asked them, “What can I do for you? How can I make amends so that you will bless the Lord’s people again?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
David asks the Gibeonites how he can make atonement for Saul's broken covenant so the famine on the land will lift. It shows that unrepented bloodguilt invites God's judgment until justice is made right.
Overview
A three-year famine had driven David to seek the LORD, who revealed it was for Saul's slaughter of the Gibeonites, in violation of Israel's ancient sworn oath (Joshua 9). David humbly asks the wronged party what would restore covenant blessing to Yahweh's inheritance. The episode underscores that broken oaths and shed blood defile the land until atonement is made, a need ultimately answered in the perfect atonement of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 2 Sam 20:19I am among those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why will you swallow up Yahweh’s inheritance?”
- Heb 9:22According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.
- 1 Sam 26:19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that Yahweh has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, they are cursed before Yahweh; for they have driven me out today that I shouldn’t cling to Yahweh’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods!’
- Lev 1:4He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
- Exod 32:30On the next day, Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I shall make atonement for your sin.”
- Mic 6:6–7How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
- Heb 10:4–12For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
- 1 Sam 2:25If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against Yahweh, who will intercede for him?” Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh intended to kill them.
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 21:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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