2 Samuel 21:2The king called the Gibeonites, and said to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn to them: and Saul sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);
The setting
David's palace in Jerusalem, ~1000 BC. The king calls in representatives of an ancient people group that most Israelites probably forgot existed...
The emotion here: carefully explaining complex historical background
The original word
shāba' (שָׁבַע) — to swear a binding oath, often invoking God's name as witness
Why it matters
The Gibeonites survived by becoming woodcutters and water carriers for Israel's temple
Read with care
What most readers miss in 2 Samuel 21:2
This parenthetical explanation shows the narrator knows readers need context — this story was almost forgotten
Common misconceptionMany assume David is just being diplomatic, but he's actually investigating a specific covenant violation that God revealed as the cause of national disaster.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 2 Samuel 21:2
Bible Genome reading
2 Samuel 21:2 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
2 Samuel 21:2 comes from the book of 2 Samuel, written during the United Kingdom period. The setting is a royal palace. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include leadership, covenant obligation. Notable phrases: called the Gibeonites.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does 2 Samuel 21:2 mean to you, today?
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