Study Desk

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, "There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gib'eonites to death."

So the king called the Gib'eonites. Now the Gib'eonites were not of the people of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had sought to slay them in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.

And David said to the Gib'eonites, "What shall I do for you? And how shall I make expiation, that you may bless the heritage of the LORD?"

The Gib'eonites said to him, "It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel." And he said, "What do you say that I shall do for you?"

Then Rizpah the daughter of Ai'ah took sackcloth, and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell upon them from the heavens; and she did not allow the birds of the air to come upon them by day, or the beasts of the field by night.

And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father; and they did all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded supplications for the land.

"For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me;

He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.

For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

For all his ordinances were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside.

This God--his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

"For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?

He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

Thou didst give a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip;

For thou didst gird me with strength for the battle; thou didst make my assailants sink under me.

"For this I will extol thee, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to thy name.

Great triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David, and his descendants for ever."

Yea, does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?

But godless men are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be taken with the hand;

And next to him among the three mighty men was Elea'zar the son of Dodo, son of Aho'hi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew.