During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years ... , ... ... and David - sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said , “ It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family , because he killed - the Gibeonites. ”
At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. ( Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites ... , but - a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites ... had taken an oath concerning them , but in his zeal for Israel ... and Judah , Saul had sought to kill them. )
So David ... asked the Gibeonites , “ What shall I do How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD ? ”
The Gibeonites said “ We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house , nor should you put to death anyone in Israel “ Whatever you ask , I will do he replied.
And they answered - the king , “ As for the man who consumed us and plotted to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel ,
let seven ... of his male descendants be delivered so that we may hang them before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul , the chosen of the LORD. ” “ I will give them to you , ” said the king.
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.
But the king - took Armoni - and Mephibosheth , - the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul , - as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.
And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites , and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together ; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest , at the beginning of the barley harvest.
And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies , she did not allow ... the birds of the air to rest on them by day , nor the beasts of the field by night.
When David was told - what Saul’s concubine Rizpah , daughter of Aiah , had done ,
he went and took - the bones of Saul - - and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead ... , (who) had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung (the bodies) ... after (they) - had struck down Saul at Gilboa.
(So David had) the bones of Saul and - his son Jonathan brought from there , - (along with) - the bones of those who had been hanged.
And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin , in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. After - they had done everything - the king had commanded , God answered their prayers for the land.
Once again ... the Philistines waged war against Israel , and David and his servants ... went down and fought against the Philistines ; but David became exhausted.
vvv Then Ishbi-benob , - a descendant of Rapha , whose bronze spear weighed three hundred (shekels) and who was bearing a new (sword) , resolved to kill - David.
But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid struck - the Philistine , and killed him. Then David’s men swore ... “ You must never again go out with us to battle , so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished. ” -
Some time later ... ... at Gob , there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite - killed Saph , one of the descendants of Rapha.
Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob , and Elhanan son vvv of Jair vvv the Bethlehemite - killed (the brother of) Goliath the Gittite , the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
And there was still another battle at Gath , where there was a man of (great) stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot — twenty-four ... in all. He too was descended from Rapha ,
and when he taunted - Israel , Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei killed him.
- So these four descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David ... and his servants.