Bible Strands
2 Samuel 21:7
Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records that King David spares Mephibosheth during the Gibeonites’ demand for seven of Saul’s male descendants to be executed. This occurs immediately after David agrees to hand over Saul’s line to satisfy their blood-guilt claim.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיַּחְמֹל (va.yachmol) translates literally as “he had compassion” or “he spared.” It specifies the king’s selective mercy toward Mephibosheth while the other seven are delivered.
The thread — The text explicitly attributes this exemption to the oath between David and Jonathan cited in 1 Samuel 18:3, 1 Samuel 20:15, and 1 Samuel 23:18. These passages establish the binding covenant that overrides the Gibeonites’ execution demand.
Why it lands — The verse requires readers to acknowledge that a sworn covenant dictates royal action over political or ritual convenience. It establishes that loyalty to a sworn word takes precedence over expediency.
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
But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
- 1 Samuel 20:15 and do not ever cut off your loving devotion from my household—not even when the LORD cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.”
- 1 Samuel 23:18 So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD. And David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
- 2 Samuel 4:4 And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
- 1 Samuel 20:8 Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”
- 2 Samuel 9:10 You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
- 1 Samuel 20:17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his vow out of love for him, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
- 1 Samuel 20:42 And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.
- 2 Samuel 9:7 “Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
- 2 Samuel 16:4 So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” “I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!”