Study Guide: 2 Samuel 21
*This study guide can be used in conjunction with the message preached on November 2, 2025 during the series Imperfect Heroes.
Pray
Pray and ask God to help you continue to walk in faithfulness so you can set an example for those who see your life.
Read
2 Samuel 21
Observe
Vs. 1 | A three-year famine prompts David to seek God
During David’s reign, a famine lasted for three years in a row. At that point, David turned to the Lord for answers. God revealed that the famine came because of Saul and his violent household, who had killed the Gibeonites. David didn’t immediately assume every difficulty had a spiritual cause, but a1ter three years he wisely sought the Lord. While drought may have been the natural reason, David understood there could also be a deeper, spiritual cause. God explained that the famine was the result of Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites, a people Israel had sworn to protect since the time of Joshua. By attacking them, Saul not only committed murder but also broke Israel’s centuries-old covenant. God’s response shows that He expects people and nations to keep their promises, regardless of how much time has passed. If He holds humanity to this standard, we can be confident that He will also keep His everlasting covenant with His people.
Vs. 2 | David speaks to the Gibeonites
David called the Gibeonites to meet with him so he could address the wrongs Saul committed. Though they were not Israelites but descendants of the Amorites, Israel had sworn to protect them long ago. Saul had broken that oath in a misguided effort to show zeal for Israel and Judah. While zeal can be good, his was destructive, because he sinned while claiming to serve God’s people. This reminds us that good intentions never excuse sinful actions. Both our motives and our deeds matter to God.
vv. 3-6 | David’s agreement with the Gibeonites
When David met with the Gibeonites, he humbly asked how he could make atonement for the wrong Saul had done. They refused to take silver, gold, or revenge against Israel, but instead asked for justice: that seven descendants of Saul be handed over to them for execution. In that time, this request was considered fair, since Saul’s family had shared in his guilt. David agreed, knowing reconciliation with the Gibeonites was the only way for Israel to find peace with God again.
vv. 7-9 | David fulfills the agreement with the Gibeonites
David spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, because of his oath of friendship with Jonathan. Instead, he chose seven other male descendants of Saul and handed them over to the Gibeonites. They were executed publicly at the beginning of the barley harvest, a sign that this act was not hidden but done before God. Their deaths carried a curse, fulfilling the principle in Deuteronomy that “he who is hanged is accursed of God.” This pointed forward to Christ, who became a curse for us when He died on the cross, taking the judgment we deserved.
vv. 10-14a | Rizpah’s vigil
Rizpah, the mother of two of the executed men, spread sackcloth on a rock and guarded the bodies from birds and animals throughout the harvest season until the rains came. Her vigil showed both her grief and her determination to honor her sons, but the coming of rain also signaled that God had accepted the atonement and ended the famine. When David heard of Rizpah’s devotion, he gathered the bones of Saul and Jonathan, along with the remains of the seven executed men, and gave them a proper burial in Saul’s family tomb. This act brought dignity to Saul’s family and closure to the nation.
Vs. 14b | The famine ends
After these things were done, God answered prayer for the land and the famine came to an end. The bloodshed caused by Saul’s actions had defiled the land, and atonement was necessary before God would restore blessing. This shows us that sometimes unanswered prayer is linked to unresolved sin. When God calls His people to deal with past wrongs, we must respond in obedience if we want His full blessing restored.
vv. 15-17 | David retires from active duty
Later, Israel went to war with the Philistines again, and David personally went to battle. But he grew faint during the fight, and a Philistine warrior descended from giants sought to kill him. Abishai, one of David’s men, came to his rescue and killed the Philistine. Afterward, David’s men insisted that he should no longer risk his life in battle, calling him “the lamp of Israel.” They recognized that his role as leader was too important to be endangered on the battlefield. Even great leaders grow weak with age, and wise followers know when to step in and provide strength where it is lacking.
vv. 18-22 | Killing three more Philistine giants
In later battles with the Philistines, Israel’s warriors killed more giants—descendants of the same line as Goliath. Sibbechai killed Saph, Elhanan killed Goliath’s brother, and Jonathan, David’s nephew, killed a giant with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. These victories showed that Israel could defeat giants without David himself fighting, because his men had learned courage and faith through his example. David’s legacy was not only in his own victories but also in the victories of those he trained and inspired. Our faithfulness today not only blesses us but also prepares the next generation to walk in victory.
Credit: Guzik, David. “2 Samuel 21 - Avenging the Gibeonites.” Enduring Word, n.d., https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-samuel-21.
Application
1. Seek God when trouble lingers.
David didn’t assume that every difficulty was spiritual, but when the famine continued for three years, he sought the Lord. Likewise, when problems don’t go away, we should look beyond natural explanations and ask God what He wants to show us or change in our lives.
2. Keep your promises, because God keeps His.
Saul’s sin was not only murder but also breaking Israel’s covenant with the Gibeonites. God took that oath seriously, even though it was made centuries earlier. Our words and commitments matter to God. If He expects us to keep our promises, we can also rest in the truth that He will never break His promises to us.
3. Your faithfulness prepares others for victory.
By the end of the chapter, Israel’s warriors were defeating giants without David. His courage and example had trained them to walk in faith. In the same way, our obedience and trust in God can inspire and strengthen others, even after we step aside.
Pray (ACTS)
What is the ACTS prayer model?
A - Praise God for always keeping His promises.
C - Confess a time you failed to keep a promise and it hurt someone.
T - Thank God for providing restoration when sin is dealt with.
S - Ask God for help to leave behind a legacy of faith for those who come after you.
DISCUSS
Questions for personal reflection, spiritual insight, or group interaction.
Why do you think David waited until the third year of famine to seek the Lord? What does that teach us about patience and persistence in prayer?
What does this chapter reveal about how seriously God takes promises and covenants, even those made centuries earlier?
Why do you think Saul’s sin against the Gibeonites affected the entire nation? How should this shape our view of communal responsibility?
How does Saul’s “zeal” gone wrong warn us about letting passion lead to sin? Can you think of modern examples where good intentions led to harmful actions?
Why do you think David asked the Gibeonites what would bring reconciliation instead of dictating terms as king? What does this show about humility in leadership?
How does David’s decision to protect Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, even while giving up Saul’s other descendants, reflect his faithfulness to his promises?
What lessons can we learn from Rizpah’s vigil of love and grief over her sons? How can faith and perseverance bring healing in seasons of loss?
Why was it important for David to gather the bones of Saul and Jonathan for burial? What does this say about honoring people even after death?
What does the ending of the famine teach us about the connection between repentance, justice, and answered prayer?
In David’s old age, he needed others to step in and protect him in battle. How does this encourage us to support leaders and one another in seasons of weakness?
What does it mean that Israel’s men could now defeat giants without David leading them? How do our examples of faith prepare others to walk in victory?
How can this chapter encourage us to think about the legacy we are leaving behind for the next generation of believers?
Resources for Further Study of 2 Samuel