2 Samuel 21:1–6

Gibeonite Revenge

1 Now there was aa famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and bDavid sought the presence of the Lord. And the Lord said, “It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”

2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites, and athe sons of Israel 1made a covenant with them, but Saul had sought to 2kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah).

3 Thus David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? And how can I make atonement that you may bless athe inheritance of the Lord?”

4 Then the Gibeonites said to him, “aWe have no concern of silver or gold with Saul or his house, nor is it for us to put any man to death in Israel.” And he said, “I will do for you whatever you say.”

5 So they said to the king, “aThe man who consumed us and who planned 1to exterminate us from remaining within any border of Israel,

6 let seven men from his sons be given to us, and we will 1hang them abefore the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, bthe chosen of the Lord.” And the king said, “I will give them.”