Bible Strands
2 Samuel 21:4
The Gibeonites said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel for us.” “Whatever you ask, I will do for you,” he replied.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David asks the Gibeonites how to make amends for Saul's past actions, and they respond that they require no silver or gold from his house and forbid him from executing any Israelites on their behalf. David then replies that he will grant whatever request they make.
The words — The Hebrew phrase אֵֽין כֶּסֶף וְזָהָב (ein kesef ve-zahav) literally translates to "there is not silver and gold," emphasizing a complete refusal of monetary compensation. The verb וַיֹּאמְרוּ (va-yomeru) marks the Gibeonites' direct verbal response to the king's inquiry.
The thread — The rejection of silver and gold for justice echoes the warning in Psalms 49:6 against trusting in wealth and the New Testament reminder in 1 Peter 1:18 that redemption does not come through perishable metals.
Why it lands — The text demands that justice be pursued without financial transaction or bloodguilt, requiring the reader to evaluate whether their pursuit of rightness depends on compensation or violence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.
Cross-references
- Psalms 49:6 They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.
- 1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,