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Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Bible in Basic English

2 Samuel 21:8

But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Saul to whom Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, had given birth; and the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whose father was Adriel, the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Adriel;   Ajah;   Armoni;   Barzillai;   David;   Gibeon;   Meholathite;   Mephibosheth;   Rizpah;   Saul;   Thompson Chain Reference - Michal;   Rizpah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Gibeonites;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Adriel;   Barzillai;   Mephibosheth;   Merab;   Rizpah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Gibeon;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Murder;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Adriel;   Armoni;   Barzillai;   David;   Gibeah;   Mephibosheth;   Merab;   Michal;   Rizpah;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adriel;   Armoni;   David;   Mephibosheth;   Merab;   Michal;   Rizpah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Adriel;   Aiah;   Armoni;   Beeroth;   Court Systems;   Gibeon;   Hanging;   Meholathite;   Mephibosheth;   Merab;   Michal;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Adriel;   Aiah;   Armoni;   Barzillai;   Ethics;   Haggai;   Israel;   Meholathite;   Mephibosheth;   Merab;   Rizpah;   Rock;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Adriel ;   Aiah ;   Armoni ;   Barzillai ;   Gibeonites ;   Meholathite ;   Mephibosheth ;   Michal ;   Rizpah ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Mephibosheth;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Barzillai;   Mephibosheth;   Rizpah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - A'dri-El;   A-I'ah;   Armo'ni,;   Barzil'la-I;   Mephib'osheth;   Me'rab;   Mi'chal;   Riz'pah,;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abel-Meholah;   Adriel;   Aiah;   Armoni;   Barzillai;   David;   Heredity;   Meholathite;   Mephibosheth;   Merab;   Michal;   Relationships, Family;   Salvation;   Samuel, Books of;   Saul;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Abel-Meholah;   Adoption;   Adriel;   Atonement;   Burnt Offering;   Crime;   Rizpah;   Soṭah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, who were the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, and the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite
Hebrew Names Version
But the king took the two sons of Ritzpah the daughter of Ayah, whom she bore to Sha'ul, Armoni and Mefivoshet; and the five sons of Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul, whom she bore to `Adri'el the son of Barzillai the Mecholati:
King James Version
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
Lexham English Bible
So the king took two of the sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, namely Armoni and Mephibosheth, and five of the sons of Michal the daughter of Saul whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
English Standard Version
The king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite;
New Century Version
The king did take Armoni and Mephibosheth, sons of Rizpah and Saul. (Rizpah was the daughter of Aiah.) And the king took the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab. (Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite was the father of Merab's five sons.)
New English Translation
So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah whom she had born to Saul, and the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab whom she had born to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
Amplified Bible
So the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
New American Standard Bible
So the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Armoni and Mephibosheth whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But the King tooke the two sonnes of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whome shee bare vnto Saul, euen Armoni & Mephibosheth and the fiue sonnes of Michal, the daughter of Saul, whome shee bare to Adriel the sonne of Barzillai the Meholathite.
Legacy Standard Bible
So the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Armoni and Mephibosheth whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
Contemporary English Version
But Saul and Rizpah the daughter of Aiah had two sons named Armoni and Mephibosheth. Saul's daughter Merab had five sons whose father was Adriel the son of Barzillai from Meholah. David took Rizpah's two sons and Merab's five sons and
Complete Jewish Bible
The king took the two sons of Ritzpah the daughter of Ayah, whom she bore to Sha'ul, Armoni and M'fivoshet; and the five sons of Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul, whom she bore to Adri'el the son of Barzillai the Mecholati;
Darby Translation
And the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she had borne to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of [the sister of] Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite;
Easy-to-Read Version
David gave them Armoni and Mephibosheth. These were the sons of Saul and Rizpah. Saul also had a daughter named Merab who was married to Adriel son of Barzillai, from Meholah. David took the five sons of Merab and Adriel.
George Lamsa Translation
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Ana, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Nadab the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Azriel, the son of Barzillai the Meholathite;
Good News Translation
However, he took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons that Rizpah the daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul; he also took the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai, who was from Meholah.
Literal Translation
And the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth. And he took the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the two sonnes of Rispa ye doughter of Aia, whom she had borne vnto Saul, Armoni & Mephiboseth, And the fyue sonnes of Michol the doughter of Saul, whom she bare vnto Adriel the sonne of Barsillai the Mahalothite,
American Standard Version
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bare to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the king toke the two sonnes of Rispha the daughter of Aia whom she bare vnto Saul, euen Armoni and Miphiboseth, and the fiue sonnes of Michol the daughter of Saul, whom she bare to Adriel the sonne of Barzellai the Meholathite.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite;
King James Version (1611)
But the king tooke the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare vnto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the fiue sonnes of Michal the daughter of Saul, whome she brought vp for Adriel the sonne of Barzillai the Meholathite.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the king took the two sons of Respha the daughter of Aia, whom she bore to Saul, Hermonoi and Memphibosthe, and the five sons of Michol daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Esdriel son of Berzelli the Moulathite.
English Revised Version
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bare to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
Berean Standard Bible
But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the kyng took twei sones of Respha, douyter of Ahira, whiche sche childide to Saul, Armony, and Mysphibosech; and he took fyue sones of Mychol, douyter of Saul, whiche sche gendride to Adriel, sone of Berzellai, that was of Molaty.
Young's Literal Translation
and the king taketh the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of Michal daughter of Saul whom she bare to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite,
Update Bible Version
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
Webster's Bible Translation
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
World English Bible
But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
New King James Version
So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul; and the five sons of Michal 1 Samuel 18:19 and 1 Samuel 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:14 and 2 Samuel 6:23)">[fn] the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite;
New Living Translation
But he gave them Saul's two sons Armoni and Mephibosheth, whose mother was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. He also gave them the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, the wife of Adriel son of Barzillai from Meholah.
New Life Bible
The king took the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah, Armoni and Mephibosheth, whom she had born to Saul. And he took the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whom she had born to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
New Revised Standard
The king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Merab daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So the king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she had borne to Saul, even Armoni and Mephibosheth, - and the five sons of Michal daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai, the Meholathite;
Douay-Rheims Bible
So the king took the two sons of Respha the daughter of Aia, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni, and Miphiboseth: and the five sons of Michol the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Hadriel the son of Berzellai, that was of Molathi:
Revised Standard Version
The king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Ai'ah, whom she bore to Saul, Armo'ni and Mephib'osheth; and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to A'dri-el the son of Barzil'lai the Meho'lathite;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, Armoni and Mephibosheth whom she had borne to Saul, and the five sons of Merab the daughter of Saul, whom she had borne to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite.

Contextual Overview

1 In the days of David they were short of food for three years, year after year; and David went before the Lord for directions. And the Lord said, On Saul and on his family there is blood, because he put the Gibeonites to death. 2 Then the king sent for the Gibeonites; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but were the last of the Amorites, to whom the children of Israel had given an oath; but Saul, in his passion for the children of Israel and Judah, had made an attempt on their lives:) 3 So David said to the Gibeonites, What may I do for you? how am I to make up to you for your wrongs, so that you may give a blessing to the heritage of the Lord? 4 And the Gibeonites said to him, It is not a question of silver and gold between us and Saul or his family; and it is not in our power to put to death any man in Israel. And he said, Say, then, what am I to do for you? 5 And they said to the king, As for the man by whom we were wasted, and who made designs against us to have us completely cut off from the land of Israel, 6 Let seven men of his family be given up to us and we will put an end to them by hanging them before the Lord in Gibeon, on the hill of the Lord. And the king said, I will give them. 7 But the king did not give up Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the Lord's oath made between David and Jonathan, the son of Saul. 8 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Saul to whom Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, had given birth; and the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab, whose father was Adriel, the son of Barzillai the Meholathite: 9 And he gave them up to the Gibeonites, and they put them to death, hanging them on the mountain before the Lord; all seven came to their end together in the first days of the grain-cutting, at the start of the cutting of the barley.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Rizpah: 2 Samuel 3:7

and the five sons: This Adriel did not marry Michal, Saul's younger daughter, but Merab, 1 Samuel 18:19, Michael being married to David, and afterwards to Phaltiel; though it is here said she bore (yaledah) not brought up, as falsely rendered, five sons to Adriel. Two of Dr. Kennicott's manuscripts, however, have Merab, instead of Michal; the Syriac and Arabic have Nadab; and the Chaldee renders the passage thus: "And the five sons of Merab which Michal the daughter of Saul brought up, which she brought forth to Adriel the son of Barzillai."

Michal: or, Michal's sister, 1 Samuel 18:19

brought up for: Heb. bare to

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 20:16 - Let the Lord 2 Samuel 21:10 - Rizpah Psalms 109:14 - Let the Jonah 1:15 - they

Cross-References

Genesis 19:3
But he made his request more strongly, so they went with him into his house; and he got food ready for them, and made unleavened bread, of which they took.
Genesis 26:30
Then he made a feast for them, and they all had food and drink.
Genesis 29:22
And Laban got together all the men of the place and gave a feast.
Genesis 40:20
Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his servants; and he gave honour to the chief wine-servant and the chief bread-maker among the others.
Judges 14:10
Then Samson went down to the woman, and made a feast there, as was the way among young men.
Judges 14:12
And Samson said, Now I have a hard question for you: if you are able to give me the answer before the seven days of the feast are over, I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty changes of clothing;
1 Samuel 1:22
But Hannah did not go, for she said to her husband, I will not go till the child has been taken from the breast, and then I will take him with me and put him before the Lord, where he may be for ever.
1 Samuel 25:36
And Abigail went back to Nabal; and he was feasting in his house like a king; and Nabal's heart was full of joy, for he had taken much wine; so she said nothing to him till dawn came.
2 Samuel 3:20
So Abner, with twenty men, came to Hebron, to David. And David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.
1 Kings 3:15
And Solomon, awakening, saw that it was a dream; then he came to Jerusalem, where he went before the ark of the agreement of the Lord, offering burned offerings and peace-offerings; and he made a feast for all his servants.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah,.... Saul's concubine, 2 Samuel 3:7;

whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; of whom we read nowhere else; after the name of the latter, it is probable, Jonathan's son was called, before mentioned:

and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; Michal had no children to the day of her death, nor was she the wife of Adriel, but Merab her sister, 1 Samuel 18:19; wherefore these sons were not whom she "bare", as the word used signifies, but, as we rightly render it, whom she "brought up" or educated, so the Targum, her sister being dead; and so the Jews say k, Merab brought them forth, and Michal brought them up, therefore they were called by her name; or the words may be supplied thus, "and the five sons [of the sister of Michal]", and, as in

2 Samuel 21:19, is supplied, "[the brother of] Goliath". Barzillai is here called the Meholathite, to distinguish him from Barzillai the Gileadite, spoken of in a former chapter, see 2 Samuel 17:27.

k T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 19. 2.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Rizpah - See the marginal reference. A foreign origin was possibly the cause of the selection of Rizpah’s sons as victims.

Sons of Michal - An obvious error for “Merab” (1 Samuel 18:19 note).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 21:8. Five sons of Michal - whom she brought up — Michal, Saul's daughter, was never married to Adriel, but to David, and afterwards to Phaltiel; though it is here said she bore ילדה yaledah, not brought up, as we falsely translate it: but we learn from 1 Samuel 18:19, that Merab, one of Saul's daughters, was married to Adriel.

Two of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. have Merab, not Michal; the Syriac and Arabic have Nadab; the Chaldee has properly Merab; but it renders the passage thus: - And the five sons of Merab which Michal the daughter of Saul brought up, which she brought forth to Adriel the son of Barzillai. This cuts the knot.


 
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